Broadband Wall-less Waveguide for Shallow Water Waves

Abstract: We present a broadband waveguide for water waves obtained through mere manipulation of seabed properties and without any need for sidewalls. Specifically, we show that a viscoelastic seabed results in a modified effective gravity term in the governing equations of water waves, which provides a generic broadband mechanism to control oceanic wave energy and enables confining surface waves inside a long narrow path without sidewalls. Our findings have promising applications in guiding and steering waves for oceanic wave energy farms or protecting shorelines.