Wave amplitude formula_4 described by the equation: where The units of the amplitude depend on the type of wave. Transverse mechanical waves (e.g., a wave on a string) have an amplitude expressed as a distance (e.g., meters), longitudinal mechanical waves (e.g., sound waves) use units of pressure (e.g., pascals), and electromagnetic waves (a form of transverse vacuum wave) express the amplitude in terms of its electric field (e.g., volts/meter). The wavelength formula_30 is the distance between two sequential crests or troughs (or other equivalent points), generally is measured in meters. A wavenumber formula_17, the spatial frequency of the wave in radians
Zero sound transport equation is valid in the regime where formula_36 and formula_37. In many systems, formula_38 only slowly depends on the angle between formula_39 and formula_40. If formula_29 is an angle-independent constant formula_42 with formula_43 (note that this constraint is stricter than the Pomeranchuk instability) then the wave has the form formula_44 and dispersion relation formula_45 where formula_46 is the ratio of zero sound phase velocity to Fermi velocity. If the first two Legendre components of the Landau parameter are significant, formula_47 and formula_48, the system also admits an asymmetric zero sound wave solution formula_49 (where formula_50 and formula_51 are the