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A joint theoretical and experimental study is performed on the generation of internal gravity waves by an oscillating sphere, as a paradigm of the generation of internal tides by barotropic tidal flow over three-dimensional supercritical topography. The theory is linear and three-dimensional, applies both near and far from the sphere, and takes into account viscosity and the unsteadiness arising from the interference with transients generated at the start-up. The waves propagate in conical beams, evolving with distance from a bimodal to unimodal wave profile. In the near field, the profile is asymmetric with its major peak towards the axis of the cones. The experiments involve horizontal oscillations and develop a cross-correlation technique for the measurement of the deformation of fluorescent dye planes to sub-pixel accuracy. At an oscillation amplitude of one fifth of the radius of the sphere, the waves are linear and the …