Measurement of high frequency capillary waves on steep gravity waves

The properties of high frequency capillary waves generated by steep gravity waves on deep water have been measured with a high resolution laser optical slope gauge. The results have been compared with the steady theory of Longuet-Higgins (1963). Good qualitative agreement is obtained. However, the quantitative predictions of the capillary wave slopes cannot be verified by the data because the theory requires knowledge of an idealized quantity - the crest curvature of the gravity wave in the absence of surface tension - which cannot be measured experimentally.