Ship-induced solitons as a manifestation of critical phenomena
  A ship, moving with small acceleration in a reservoir of uniform depth, can be subjected to a sudden hydrodynamical impact similar to collision with an underwater rock, and on water surface unusual solitary wave will start running. The factors responsible for formation of solitons induced by a moving ship are analyzed. Emphasis is given to a phenomenon observed by John Scott Russell more 170 years ago when a sudden stop of a boat preceded the occurrence of exotic water dome. In dramatic changes of polemic about the stability and mathematical description of a solitary wave, the question why "Russell's wave" occurred has not been raised, though attempts its recreation invariably suffered failure. In our report the conditions disclosing the principle of the famous event as a critical phenomenon are described. In a reservoir of uniform depth a ship can confront by a dynamic barrier within narrow limits of ship's speed and acceleration. In a wider interval of parameters a ship generates a satellite wave, which can be transformed in a different-locking soliton. These phenomena can be classified into an extensive category of dynamic barrier effects including the transition of aircrafts through the sound barrier. 
Stanyslav Zakharov and Alexey Kryukov