Noun: solitary wave
- (physics) a quantum of energy or quasiparticle that can be propagated as a travelling wave in nonlinear systems and is neither preceded nor followed by another such disturbance; does not obey the superposition principle and does not dissipate
"Researchers studied solitary waves in fibre optic cables";
- soliton, soliton wave
Derived forms: solitary waves
Type of: traveling wave [US], travelling wave [Brit, Cdn]
Encyclopedia: Solitary wave