Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / iii / Paper 345 / 1 / b / Solution

Let the group velocity make an angle $\theta$ above the horizontal. A convenient right-handed choice of rotated unit vectors isThe first vector is parallel to the wavevector, the second is parallel to the group velocity, and their perpendicularity is the defining geometry of an internal-wave phase and group velocity. ThusWriting ${\Delta }_{\xi \zeta }={\partial }_{\xi }^2+{\partial }_{\zeta }^2$, the equation becomesFor an inviscid plane wave proportional to $e^{i(k\xi -\omega t)}$, its dispersion relation is $\omega =N\sin \theta$.