Rogue waves and analogies in optics and oceanography

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding rogue waves in optics and oceanography, highlighting experimental techniques, analogies between fields, and ongoing debates about their physical mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of rogue wave studies in optics and oceanography, emphasizing experimental developments and theoretical debates.

Findings

Optical real-time measurement techniques have advanced rogue wave research.

Ocean data analysis supports both linear and nonlinear rogue wave formation theories.

Optics research is expanding into dissipative soliton systems.

Abstract

We review the study of rogue waves and related instabilities in optical and oceanic environments, with particular focus on recent experimental developments. In optics, we emphasize results arising from the use of real-time measurement techniques, whilst in oceanography we consider insights obtained from analysis of real-world ocean wave data and controlled experiments in wave tanks. Although significant progress in understanding rogue waves has been made based on an analogy between wave dynamics in optics and hydrodynamics, these comparisons have predominantly focused on one-dimensional nonlinear propagation scenarios. As a result, there remains significant debate about the dominant physical mechanisms driving the generation of ocean rogue waves in the complex environment of the open sea. Here, we review state-of-the-art of rogue wave studies in optics and hydrodynamics, aiming to clearly identify similarities and differences between the results obtained in the two fields. In hydrodynamics, we take care to review results that support both nonlinear and linear interpretations of ocean rogue wave formation, and in optics, we also summarise results from an emerging area of research applying the measurement techniques developed for the study of rogue waves to dissipative soliton systems. We conclude with a discussion of important future research directions.