Elastic surface waves and the structure of liquid surfaces

Abstract

The high-frequency elastic behavior of fluid surfaces is studied from first principles. The general dispersion equation for elastic surface waves thus obtained reveals the influence of the surface structure on Rayleigh's surface waves. New types of surface waves are also found. Their existence depends crucially on the presence of nonvanishing surface excess elastic moduli and hence these waves are inaccessible to the macroscopic theory of elasticity. The experimental observation of these elastic surface waves could provide new information about the structure of the liquid surface.