The arithmetic geometry of resonant Rossby wave triads

Abstract

Linear wave solutions to the Charney-Hasegawa-Mima partial differential equation with periodic boundary conditions have two physical interpretations: Rossby (atmospheric) waves, and drift (plasma) waves in a tokamak. These waves display resonance in triads. In the case of infinite Rossby deformation radius, the set of resonant triads may be described as the set of integer solutions to a particular homogeneous Diophantine equation, or as the set of rational points on a projective surface. We give a rational parametrization of the smooth points on this surface, answering the question: What are all resonant triads? We also give a fiberwise description, yielding a procedure to answer the question: For fixed $r\in \mathbb{Q}$, what are all wavevectors $(x,y)$ that resonate with a wavevector $(a,b)$ with $a/b=r$?

20 pages, 4 figures