On the spectra of the gravity water waves linearized at monotone shear flows

Abstract

We consider the spectra of the 2-dim gravity waves of finite depth linearized at a uniform monotonic shear flow $U(x_2)$, $x_2 \in (-h, 0)$, where the wave numbers $k$ of the horizontal variable $x_1$ is treated as a parameter. Our main results include a.) a complete branch of non-singular neutral modes $c^+(k)$ strictly decreasing in $k\ge 0$ and converging to $U(0)$ as $k \to \infty$; b.) another branch of non-singular neutral modes $c_-(k)$, $k \in (-k_-, k_-)$ for some $k_->0$, with $c_-(\pm k_-) = U(-h)$; c.) the non-degeneracy and the bifurcation at $(k_-, c=U(-h))$; d.) the existence and non-existence of unstable modes for $c$ near $U(0)$, $U(-h)$, and interior inflection values of $U$; e.) the complete spectral distribution in the case where $U''$ does not change sign or changes sign exactly once non-degenerately. In particular, $U$ is spectrally stable if $U'U''\le 0$ and unstable if $U$ has a non-degenerate interior inflection value or $\{U'U''>0\}$ accumulate at $x_2=-h$ or $0$. Moreover, if $U$ is an unstable shear flow of the fixed boundary problem in a channel, then strong gravity could cause instability of the linearized gravity waves in all long waves (i.e. $|k|\ll1$).