Bruce Denardo
Andres Larraza
Anthony A. Atchley
Steven Dorff
Phys. Dept., Code PH/De, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943
A special case of a prediction by O. Rudenko and A. Chirkin [Sov. Phys. JETP 40, 945--949 (1975)] is that a small-amplitude monofrequency sound wave will decay as a Gaussian as a result of interaction with finite-amplitude noise, if the waves are all moving in one direction. An experiment to verify this will be discussed. The apparatus includes a 21-m-long, 7-segment, thick-walled aluminum tube, with two high-intensity compression drivers coupled to one end and an absorber at the other end. A simplified perturbative treatment of the problem, as well as possible applications, will be presented. The importance of this system as one in far-off equilibrium [A. Larraza, to be submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.] will also be discussed. [Work supported by NPS Direct-Funding Program and ONR.]