Higher-order Bragg reflection of gravity surface waves by periodic beds

Experiments are described which demonstrate higher-order Bragg resonant interactions between linear gravity waves and doubly sinusoidal beds. These higher-order effects, which include harmonic and subharmonic Bragg reflections, have been observed by making very precise measurements in a wave tank. Subharmonic reflection was found to be very large, even for small bottom undulation amplitudes. The experimental data are compared with the predictions of a numerical model based on the full potential theory of linear waves.