Department of Mathematical Sciences
Ryan Creedon, Brown University
Friday, February 27th, 2026
11:00AM-11:50AM
Stratton Hall 202
Speaker: Ryan Creedon, Brown University
Title: A Proof of the Transverse Instability of Stokes Waves
Abstract: Forty years ago, numerical computations showed that periodic surface water waves, called the Stokes waves, are unstable to transverse perturbations. In this talk, I will walk through the first rigorous proof of the existence of this instability for Stokes waves of sufficiently small amplitude in water of both finite and infinite depth. Key ideas behind the proof will be illustrated, including connections to previous formal asymptotic and numerical investigations. A key step of the proof requires computer assistance, and this aspect of the proof will be particularly emphasized.