Dynamical cascade generation as basic mechanism of Benjamin-Feir instability

A novel model of discretized energy cascade generated by Benjamin-Feir instability is presented. Conditions for appearance of direct and inverse cascades are given explicitly, as well as conditions for stabilization of the wave system due to cascade termination. These results can be used directly for explanation of available results of laboratory experiments and as basic forecast scenarios for planned experiments, depending on the frequency of an initially excited mode and steepness of its amplitude.