A capillary wave is a free-surface wave for which surface tension supplies an essential restoring stress.
For a conserved scalar order parameter, a sinusoidal interface perturbation of wavenumber creates a harmonic chemical-potential field extending a distance into each phase. Surface tension then produces a relaxation rate proportional to .
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Capillary waves are small surface waves that occur on the interface of a fluid, primarily driven by surface tension. They are typically generated when a disturbance, such as wind or a small object, disturbs the surface of a liquid, leading to oscillations. The wavelength of capillary waves is generally short, typically on the order of a few centimeters, and they have periods that range from a fraction of a second to several seconds.