Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / ii / Paper 4 / 38A / c / Solution

The obstacle and wave pattern are stationary, so $\omega =\Omega =0$. Withthe dispersion relation becomesHence $\cos \varphi >0$, so $-\pi /2<\varphi <\pi /2$, and

Differentiating the dispersion relation with respect to the wavevector giveswhere the zero-frequency relation
$\alpha /\sqrt{\kappa }=V\cos \varphi$ was used. Its first component is always negative, so the ray angle $\psi$ lies inMoreover,

Put $q=|\tan \varphi |$. The magnitude of the slope relative to the negative $x_1$-axis isIts derivative isso its global maximum occurs at $q=1/\sqrt{2}$ and equalsTherefore all group-velocity rays lie in the stationary square-root-dispersion wakea wedge of semi-angle ${\tan }^{-1}(2^{-3/2})$ extending in the negative $x_1$-direction.