Laser-generated nonlinear Rayleigh waves with shocks

Intense laser radiation was used to generate a Rayleigh wave pulse of finite amplitude in fused quartz. Measurements of the pulse at two locations along the propagation path reveal the formation of well-defined shocks in the horizontal (in-plane) velocity waveform. As the pulse propagates, the different propagation speeds of the head and tail shocks lead to a considerable increase in the duration of the pulse. Theoretical predictions based on nonlinear spectral evolution equations are in close agreement with the observed waveform distortion and shock formation.