On traveling wave solutions of water-wave equations in curved annular domains

This paper presents a pioneering investigation into the existence of traveling wave solutions for the two-dimensional Euler equations with constant vorticity in a curved annular domain, where gravity acts radially inward. This configuration is highly relevant to astrophysical and equatorial oceanic flows, such as those found in planetary rings and equatorial currents. Unlike traditional water wave models that assume flat beds and vertical gravity, our study more accurately captures the centripetal effects and boundary-driven vorticity inherent in these complex systems. Our main results establish both local and global bifurcation of traveling waves, marking a significant advancement in the field. First, through a local bifurcation analysis near a trivial solution, we identify a critical parameter \(α_c\) and prove the existence of a smooth branch of small-amplitude solutions. The bifurcation is shown to be pitchfork-type, with its direction (subcritical or supercritical) determined by the sign of an explicit parameter \(\mathcal{O}\). This finding provides a nuanced understanding of the wave behavior under varying conditions. Second, we obtain a global bifurcation result using a modified Leray-Schauder degree theory. This result demonstrates that the local branch extends to large-amplitude waves. This comprehensive analysis offers a holistic view of the traveling wave solutions in this complex domain. Finally, numerical examples illustrate the theoretical bifurcation types, confirming both supercritical and subcritical regimes. These examples highlight the practical applicability of our results.