Rogue waves and analogies in optics and oceanography

Over a decade ago, an analogy was drawn between the generation of large ocean waves and the propagation of light fields in optical fibres. This analogy drove numerous experimental studies in both systems, which we review here. In optics, we focus on results arising from the use of real-time measurement techniques, whereas in oceanography we consider insights obtained from analysis of real-world ocean wave data and controlled experiments in wave tanks. This Review of the work in hydrodynamics includes results that support both nonlinear and linear interpretations of rogue wave formation in the ocean, and in optics, we also provide an overview of the emerging area of research applying the measurement techniques developed for the study of rogue waves to dissipative soliton systems. We discuss the insights gained from the analogy between the two systems and its limitations in modelling real-world ocean wave scenarios that include physical effects that go beyond a one-dimensional propagation model.An analogy between wave propagation in hydrodynamics and in optics has yielded new insights into the mechanisms leading to the formation of giant rogue waves on the ocean. We review experimental progress and field measurements in this area.Key pointsAn analogy between wave propagation on the ocean and in optical fibres has provided new insights into the physical mechanisms and dynamical features that underpin the occurrence of rogue waves.Real-time measurement techniques studying instabilities in fibre optics have highlighted the emergence of localized breather structures associated with nonlinear focusing, a scenario confirmed in wave-tank experiments.The experimental techniques developed for rogue wave measurement in optics have also yielded improved understanding of transient dynamics and dissipative soliton structures in lasers.Advanced analysis and hindcasting of real-world ocean wave data have revealed the central role of directionality and the superposition of random wave trains in the formation of ocean rogue waves.The emergence of oceanic rogue waves in the general case is likely to arise from both linear and nonlinear mechanisms to different degrees depending on the prevalent wind and sea state conditions.Machine learning could play a key role in future efforts to forecast and predict ocean rogue waves and to identify new areas of physical analogy and overlap between optics and hydrodynamics.