A simple kinematic approach to the description of interaction between solitons is developed. It is applicable to both integrable and non-integrable two-dimensional models, including those commonly used for studying surface and internal oceanic waves. This approach allows obtaining some important characteristics of the interaction between solitary waves propagating at an angle to each other. The developed theory is validated by comparison with the exact solutions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation and then applied to the observed interaction of solitary internal waves in a two-layer fluid within the two-dimensional Benjamin-Ono model.
Surface and internal waves, solitons, kinematic approach, Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation, Benjamin-Ono equation, two-soliton solutions
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