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We study fundamental rogue-wave solutions of the focusing nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation in the limit that the order of the rogue wave is large and the independent variables $(x,t)$ are proportional to the order (the far-field limit). We first formulate a Riemann-Hilbert representation of these solutions that allows the order to vary continuously rather than by integer increments. The intermediate solutions in this continuous family include also soliton solutions for zero boundary conditions spectrally encoded by a single complex-conjugate pair of poles of arbitrary order, as well as other solutions having nonzero boundary conditions matching those of the rogue waves albeit with far slower decay as $$x\to\pm\infty$$. The large-order far-field asymptotic behavior of the solution depends on which of three disjoint regions $$\mathcal{C}$$ (the ``channels''), $$\mathcal{S}$$ (the ``shelves''), and $$\mathcal{E}$$(the ``exterior domain'') contains the rescaled variables. On the region \mathcal{C}, the amplitude is small and the solution is highly oscillatory, while on the region \mathcal{S}, the solution is approximated by a modulated plane wave with a highly oscillatory correction term. The asymptotic behavior on these two domains is the same for all continuous orders. Assuming that the order belongs to the discrete sequence characteristic of rogue-wave solutions, the asymptotic behavior of the solution on the region $$\exterior$$ resembles that on \mathcal{S} but without the oscillatory correction term. Solutions of other continuous orders behave quite differently on $$\mathcal{E}$$. 

RogueWaveInfiniteNLS v0.1.0 Initial release with the fixes. 

The third Painlevé equation in its generic form, often referred to as Painlevé-III($$D_6$$), is given by $$ \frac{{\rm d}^2u}{{\rm d}x^2} =\frac{1}{u}\left(\frac{{\rm d}u}{{\rm d}x} \right)^2-\frac{1}{x} \frac{{\rm d}u}{{\rm d}x} + \frac{\alpha u^2 + \beta}{x}+4u^3-\frac{4}{u}, \qquad \alpha,\beta \in \mathbb C. $$ Starting from a generic initial solution $$u_0(x)$$ corresponding to parameters $$\alpha$$, $$\beta$$, denoted as the triple $$(u_0(x),\alpha,\beta)$$, we apply an explicit Bäcklund transformation to generate a family of solutions $$(u_n(x),\alpha + 4n,\beta + 4n)$$ indexed by $$n \in \mathbb N$$. We study the large $$n$$ behavior of the solutions $$(u_n(x), \alpha + 4n, \beta + 4n)$$ under the scaling $x = z/n$ in two different ways: (a) analyzing the convergence properties of series solutions to the equation, and (b) using a Riemann-Hilbert representation of the solution $$u_n(z/n)$$. Our main result is a proof that the limit of solutions $$u_n(z/n)$$ exists and is given by a solution of the degenerate Painlevé-III equation, known as Painlevé-III($$D_8$$), $$ \frac{{\rm d}^2U}{{\rm d}z^2} =\frac{1}{U}\left(\frac{{\rm d}U}{{\rm d}z}\right)^2-\frac{1}{z} \frac{{\rm d}U}{{\rm d}z} + \frac{4U^2 + 4}{z}.$$ A notable application of our result is to rational solutions of Painlevé-III($$D_6$$), which are constructed using the seed solution $(1,4m,-4m)$ where $$m \in \mathbb C \setminus \big(\mathbb Z + \frac{1}{2}\big)$$ and can be written as a particular ratio of Umemura polynomials. We identify the limiting solution in terms of both its initial condition at $z = 0$ when it is well defined, and by its monodromy data in the general case. Furthermore, as a consequence of our analysis, we deduce the asymptotic behavior of generic solutions of Painlevé-III, both $$D_6$$ and $$D_8$$ at $z = 0$. We also deduce the large $$n$$ behavior of the Umemura polynomials in a neighborhood of $z = 0$. 

It is well known that the Painlevé equations can formally degenerate to autonomous differential equations with elliptic function solutions in suitable scaling limits. A way to make this degeneration rigorous is to apply Deift-Zhou steepest-descent techniques to a Riemann-Hilbert representation of a family of solutions. This method leads to an explicit approximation formula in terms of theta functions and related algebro-geometric ingredients that is difficult to directly link to the expected limiting differential equation. However, the approximation arises from an outer parametrix that satisfies relatively simple conditions. By applying a method that we learned from Alexander Its, it is possible to use these simple conditions to directly obtain the limiting differential equation, bypassing the details of the algebro-geometric solution of the outer parametrix problem. In this paper, we illustrate the use of this method to relate an approximation of the algebraic solutions of the Painlevé-III (D$$_7$$) equation valid in the part of the complex plane where the poles and zeros of the solutions asymptotically reside to a form of the Weierstraß equation. 

Abstract We study the (characteristic) Cauchy problem for the Maxwell‐Bloch equations of light‐matter interaction via asymptotics, under assumptions that prevent the generation of solitons. Our analysis clarifies some features of the sense in which physically‐motivated initial‐boundary conditions are satisfied. In particular, we present a proper Riemann‐Hilbert problem that generates the uniquecausalsolution to the Cauchy problem, that is, the solution vanishes outside of the light cone. Inside the light cone, we relate the leading‐order asymptotics to self‐similar solutions that satisfy a system of ordinary differential equations related to the Painlevé‐III (PIII) equation. We identify these solutions and show that they are related to a family of PIII solutions recently discovered in connection with several limiting processes involving the focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We fully explain a resulting boundary layer phenomenon in which, even for smooth initial data (an incident pulse), the solution makes a sudden transition over an infinitesimally small propagation distance. At a formal level, this phenomenon has been described by other authors in terms of the PIII self‐similar solutions. We make this observation precise and for the first time we relate the PIII self‐similar solutions to the Cauchy problem. Our analysis of the asymptotic behavior satisfied by the optical field and medium density matrix reveals slow decay of the optical field in one direction that is actually inconsistent with the simplest version of scattering theory. Our results identify a precise generic condition on an optical pulse incident on an initially‐unstable medium sufficient for the pulse to stimulate the decay of the medium to its stable state. 

Recurring slow slip along near-trench megathrust faults occurs at many subduction zones, but for unknown reasons, this process is not universal. Fluid overpressures are implicated in encouraging slow slip; however, links between slow slip, fluid content, and hydrogeology remain poorly known in natural systems. Three-dimensional seismic imaging and ocean drilling at the Hikurangi margin reveal a widespread and previously unknown fluid reservoir within the extensively hydrated (up to 47 vol % H₂O) volcanic upper crust of the subducting Hikurangi Plateau large igneous province. This ~1.5 km thick volcaniclastic upper crust readily dewaters with subduction but retains half of its fluid content upon reaching regions with well-characterized slow slip. We suggest that volcaniclastic-rich upper crust at volcanic plateaus and seamounts is a major source of water that contributes to the fluid budget in subduction zones and may drive fluid overpressures along the megathrust that give rise to frequent shallow slow slip.