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Abstract The inverse scattering transform allows explicit construction of solutions to many physically significant nonlinear wave equations. Notably, this method can be extended to fractional nonlinear evolution equations characterized by anomalous dispersion using completeness of suitable eigenfunctions of the associated linear scattering problem. In anomalous diffusion, the mean squared displacement is proportional to t α , α > 0, while in anomalous dispersion, the speed of localized waves is proportional to A α , where A is the amplitude of the wave. Fractional extensions of the modified Korteweg–deVries (mKdV), sine-Gordon (sineG) and sinh-Gordon (sinhG) and associated hierarchies are obtained. Using symmetries present in the linear scattering problem, these equations can be connected with a scalar family of nonlinear evolution equations of which fractional mKdV (fmKdV), fractional sineG (fsineG), and fractional sinhG (fsinhG) are special cases. Completeness of solutions to the scalar problem is obtained and, from this, the nonlinear evolution equation is characterized in terms of a spectral expansion. In particular, fmKdV, fsineG, and fsinhG are explicitly written. One-soliton solutions are derived for fmKdV and fsineG using the inverse scattering transform and these solitons are shown to exhibit anomalous dispersion.
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Semiclassical dynamics and coherent soliton condensates in self‐focusing nonlinear media with periodic initial conditions
Abstract The semiclassical (small dispersion) limit of the focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation with periodic initial conditions (ICs) is studied analytically and numerically. First, through a comprehensive set of numerical simulations, it is demonstrated that solutions arising from a certain class of ICs, referred to as “periodic single‐lobe” potentials, share the same qualitative features, which also coincide with those of solutions arising from localized ICs. The spectrum of the associated scattering problem in each of these cases is then numerically computed, and it is shown that such spectrum is confined to the real and imaginary axes of the spectral variable in the semiclassical limit. This implies that all nonlinear excitations emerging from the input have zero velocity, and form a coherent nonlinear condensate. Finally, by employing a formal Wentzel‐Kramers‐Brillouin expansion for the scattering eigenfunctions, asymptotic expressions for the number and location of the bands and gaps in the spectrum are obtained, as well as corresponding expressions for the relative band widths and the number of “effective solitons.” These results are shown to be in excellent agreement with those from direct numerical computation of the eigenfunctions. In particular, a scaling law is obtained showing that the number of effective solitons is inversely proportional to the small dispersion parameter.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2009487
- PAR ID:
- 10456530
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Studies in Applied Mathematics
- Volume:
- 145
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0022-2526
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 325-356
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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