High-speed two-dimensional measurement of water waves with a laser refraction technique

The slope angles of gravity-capillary waves on a water surface are measured by using a laser beam refraction technique. The phase velocity of waves induced by a wave generator is derived from the phase-averaged slope angles measured at different locations. The wave profile is then calculated by converting the time-varying slope angles into the free-surface displacement. It is shown that small-scale capillary waves form on the forward face of the generator-induced waves. (author)