 Solution

Along $x=Vt+x_0$, the phase is $t\Phi (k)+k{x}_0$, with $\Phi (k)=kV-\omega (k)$. Graphically, a line of slope $V$ intersects the dispersion curve transversely except where it is tangent. On a transverse region, neighboring wavenumbers acquire order-one phase differences over a width $\Delta k\sim t^{-1}$, so cancellation leaves an $O(t^{-1})$ contribution. More formally, integration by parts usesand gives that order when the amplitude and its derivative are integrable and ${\Phi }^{\prime }$ is bounded away from zero on the region.

At a nondegenerate tangent point $k_{\ast }$, ${\Phi }^{\prime }(k_{\ast })=0$, equivalently $\boxed{V={\omega }^{\prime }(k_{\ast })}$, and $\Phi (k)=\Phi (k_{\ast })-{\omega }^{\prime \prime }(k_{\ast })(k-k_{\ast }{)}^2/2+\cdots$. Coherent wavenumbers now occupy width $O(t^{-1/2})$, yielding the stationary-phase contributionThese are the packets whose group velocity follows the observer. The displayed decay rates require the usual regularity and nondegeneracy hypotheses; $A\to 0$ alone is not a complete analytic hypothesis, and a vanishing amplitude or degenerate stationary point changes the leading order.

For deep water take a velocity potential satisfying Laplace's equation below the undisturbed surface and decaying with depth. A Fourier mode has vertical factor $e^{|k|z}$. The linearized kinematic and dynamic surface conditions are ${\eta }_t={\varphi }_z$ and ${\varphi }_t+g\eta =0$ at $z=0$. ThusRelease from rest gives ${\overline{\eta }}_t(k,0)=0$, so inversion of the Fourier transform givesEvenness of the initial profile makes its transform even and the reconstructed surface even; the same formula also works without that symmetry when the usual reality condition holds.

Split the cosine into its two time phases. Along the moving observer, their stationary conditions are $\pm {\omega }^{\prime }(k)=V$, where $\omega (k)=\sqrt{g|k|}$. Since $|{\omega }^{\prime }(k)|=\sqrt{g}/(2\sqrt{|k|})$, for $V\ne 0$,These are the possible dominant stationary-phase packets, provided the initial Fourier amplitude at the selected wavenumber is nonzero. For $V=0$ there is no finite nonzero stationary wavenumber; the formula must not be applied by division by zero.