Rigorous Justification of the Whitham Modulation Equations for the Generalized Korteweg–de Vries Equation

In this paper, we consider the spectral stability of spatially periodic traveling wave solutions of the generalized Korteweg–de Vries equation to long‐wavelength perturbations. Specifically, we extend the work of Bronski and Johnson by demonstrating that the homogenized system describing the mean behavior of a slow modulation (WKB) approximation of the solution correctly describes the linearized dispersion relation near zero frequency of the linearized equations about the background periodic wave. The latter has been shown by rigorous Evans function techniques to control the spectral stability near the origin, that is, stability to slow modulations of the underlying solution. In particular, through our derivation of the WKB approximation we generalize the modulation expansion of Whitham for the KdV to a more general class of equations which admit periodic waves with nonzero mean. As a consequence, we will show that, assuming a particular nondegeneracy condition, spectral stability near the origin is equivalent with the local well‐posedness of the Whitham system.     

Double Degeneracy in Multiphase Modulation and the Emergence of the Boussinesq Equation

In recent years, a connection between conservation law singularity, or more generally zero characteristics arising within the linear Whitham equations, and the emergence of reduced nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) from systems generated by a Lagrangian density has been made in conservative systems. Remarkably, the conservation laws form part of the reduced nonlinear system. Within this paper, the case of double degeneracy is investigated in multiphase wavetrains, characterized by a double zero characteristic of the linearized Whitham system, with the resulting modulation of relative equilibrium (which are a generalization of the modulation of wavetrains) leading to a vector two‐way Boussinesq equation. The derived PDE adheres to the previous results (such as [1]) in the sense that all but one of its coefficients is related to the conservation laws along the relative equilibrium solution, which are then projected to form a corresponding scalar system. The theory is applied to two examples to highlight how both the criticality can be assessed and the two‐way Boussinesq equation's coefficients are obtained. The first is the coupled Nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) system and is the first time the two‐way Boussinesq equation has been shown to arise in such a context, and the second is a stratified shallow water model which validates the theory against existing results.     

On Whitham and Related Equations

The aim of this paper is to study, via theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, the dynamics of Whitham and related equations. In particular, we establish rigorous bounds between solutions of the Whitham and Korteweg–de Vries equations and provide some insights into the dynamics of the Whitham equation in different regimes, some of them being outside the range of validity of the Whitham equation as a water waves model.     

Modulation theory solution for nonlinearly resonant,fifth‐order Korteweg–de Vries,nonclassical, traveling dispersive shock waves

A new class of resonant dispersive shock waves was recently identified as solutions of the Kawahara equation— a Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) type nonlinear wave equation with third‐ and fifth‐order spatial derivatives— in the regime of nonconvex, linear dispersion. Linear resonance resulting from the third‐ and fifth‐order terms in the Kawahara equation was identified as the key ingredient for nonclassical dispersive shock wave solutions. Here, nonlinear wave (Whitham) modulation theory is used to construct approximate nonclassical traveling dispersive shock wave (TDSW) solutions of the fifth‐ order KdV equation without the third derivative term, hence without any linear resonance. A self‐similar, simple wave modulation solution of the fifth order, weakly nonlinear KdV–Whitham equations is obtained that matches a constant to a heteroclinic traveling wave via a partial dispersive shock wave so that the TDSW is interpreted as a nonlinear resonance. The modulation solution is compared with full numerical solutions, exhibiting excellent agreement. The TDSW is shown to be modulationally stable in the presence of sufficiently small third‐order dispersion. The Kawahara–Whitham modulation equations transition from hyperbolic to elliptic type for sufficiently large third‐order dispersion, which provides a possible route for the TDSW to exhibit modulational instability.     

On the spectral and modulational stability of periodic wavetrains for nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations

In this contribution, we summarize recent results [8, 9] on the stability analysis of periodicwavetrains for the sine-Gordon and general nonlinearKlein-Gordon equations. Stability is considered both from the point of view of spectral analysis of the linearized problem and from the point of view of the formal modulation theory of Whitham [12]. The connection between these two approaches is made through a modulational instability index [9], which arises from a detailed analysis of the Floquet spectrum of the linearized perturbation equation around the wave near the origin. We analyze waves of both subluminal and superluminal propagation velocities, as well as waves of both librational and rotational types. Our general results imply in particular that for the sine-Gordon case only subluminal rotationalwaves are spectrally stable. Our proof of this fact corrects a frequently cited one given by Scott [11].     

A new approach for solving highly nonlinear partial differential equations by successive differentiation method

In this work successive differentiation method is applied to solve highly nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) such as Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation, Burger's equation, Fornberg–Whitham equation, and Gardner equation. To show the efficacy of this new technique, figures have been incorporated to compare exact solution and results of this method. Wave variable is used to convert the highly nonlinear PDE into ordinary differential equation with order reduction. Then successive differentiation method is utilized to obtain the numerical solution of considered PDEs in this paper. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Whitham modulation theory for the Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation and stability analysis of its periodic traveling wave solutions

We derive the Whitham modulation equations for the Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation via a multiple scales expansion and averaging two conservation laws over one oscillation period of its periodic traveling wave solutions. We then use the Whitham modulation equations to study the transverse stability of the periodic traveling wave solutions. We find that all periodic solutions traveling along the first spatial coordinate are linearly unstable with respect to purely transversal perturbations, and we obtain an explicit expression for the growth rate of perturbations in the long wave limit. We validate these predictions by linearizing the equation around its periodic solutions and solving the resulting eigenvalue problem numerically. We also calculate the growth rate of the solitary waves analytically. The predictions of Whitham modulation theory are in excellent agreement with both of these approaches. Finally, we generalize the stability analysis to periodic waves traveling in arbitrary directions and to perturbations that are not purely transversal, and we determine the resulting domains of stability and instability.     

On the Whitham system for the (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation

Whitham modulation equations are derived for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the plane ((2+1)-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger [2d NLS]) with small dispersion. The modulation equations are obtained in terms of both physical and Riemann-type variables; the latter yields equations of hydrodynamic type. The complete 2d NLS Whitham system consists of six dynamical equations in evolutionary form and two constraints. As an application, we determine the linear stability of one-dimensional traveling waves. In both the elliptic and hyperbolic cases, the traveling waves are found to be unstable. This result is consistent with previous investigations of stability by other methods and is supported by direct numerical calculations.     

Numerical solution of nonlinear Jaulent–Miodek and Whitham–Broer–Kaup equations

In this work we investigate the numerical solution of Jaulent–Miodek (JM) and Whitham–Broer–Kaup (WBK) equations. The proposed numerical schemes are based on the fourth-order time-stepping schemes in combination with discrete Fourier transform. We discretize the original partial differential equations (PDEs) with discrete Fourier transform in space and obtain a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in Fourier space which will be solved with fourth order time-stepping methods. After transforming the equations to a system of ODEs, the linear operator in JM equation is diagonal but in WBK equation is not diagonal. However for WBK equation we can also implement the methods such as diagonal case which reduces the CPU time. Comparing numerical solutions with analytical solutions demonstrates that those methods are accurate and readily implemented.     

Krein signature and Whitham modulation theory: the sign of characteristics and the “sign characteristic”

In classical Whitham modulation theory, the transition of the dispersionless Whitham equations from hyperbolic to elliptic is associated with a pair of nonzero purely imaginary eigenvalues coalescing and becoming a complex quartet, suggesting that a Krein signature is operational. However, there is no natural symplectic structure. Instead, we find that the operational signature is the “sign characteristic” of real eigenvalues of Hermitian matrix pencils. Its role in classical Whitham single‐phase theory is elaborated for illustration. However, the main setting where the sign characteristic becomes important is in multiphase modulation. It is shown that a necessary condition for two coalescing characteristics to become unstable (the generalization of the hyperbolic to elliptic transition) is that the characteristics have opposite sign characteristic. For example the theory is applied to multiphase modulation of the two‐phase traveling wave solutions of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation.     

Modulational Instability in the Whitham Equation for Water Waves

We show that periodic traveling waves with sufficiently small amplitudes of the Whitham equation, which incorporates the dispersion relation of surface water waves and the nonlinearity of the shallow water equations, are spectrally unstable to long‐wavelengths perturbations if the wave number is greater than a critical value, bearing out the Benjamin–Feir instability of Stokes waves; they are spectrally stable to square integrable perturbations otherwise. The proof involves a spectral perturbation of the associated linearized operator with respect to the Floquet exponent and the small‐amplitude parameter. We extend the result to related, nonlinear dispersive equations.     

Optimal homotopy analysis and control of error for solutions to the non-local Whitham equation

The Whitham equation is a non-local model for nonlinear dispersive water waves. Since this equation is both nonlinear and non-local, exact or analytical solutions are rare except for in a few special cases. As such, an analytical method which results in minimal error is highly desirable for general forms of the Whitham equation. We obtain approximate analytical solutions to the non-local Whitham equation for general initial data by way of the optimal homotopy analysis method, through the use of a partial differential auxiliary linear operator. A method to control the residual error of these approximate solutions, through the use of the embedded convergence control parameter, is discussed in the context of optimal homotopy analysis. We obtain residual error minimizing solutions, using relatively few terms in the solution series, in the case of several different kernels and associated initial data. Interestingly, we find that for a specific class of initial data, there exists an exact solution given by the first term in the homotopy expansion. A specific example of initial data which satisfies the condition producing an exact solution is included. These results demonstrate the applicability of optimal homotopy analysis to equations which are simultaneously nonlinear and non-local.     

On well-posedness of a dispersive system of the Whitham–Boussinesq type

The initial-value problem for a particular bidirectional Whitham system modelling surface water waves is under consideration. This system was recently introduced in Dinvay (2018). It is numerically shown to be stable and a good approximation to the incompressible Euler equations. Here we prove local in time well-posedness. Our proof relies on an energy method and a compactness argument. In addition some numerical experiments, supporting the validity of the system as an asymptotic model for water waves, are carried out.     

Temporal asymptotics for soliton equations in problems with step initial conditions

In this survey, we present modern approaches to the construction and justification of large time asymptotics for solutions of main soliton equations with step-like initial condition whose boundary conditions as x ± are finite-gap, quasi-periodic solutions. The principal term of the asymptotic is also a finite-gap, quasi-periodic solution whose phase vectors are modulated with respect to the slow space-like variable. The Whitham equations describing this modulation are studied in detail. For the KdV equations, we construct and justify the principal term of the asymptotic for arbitrary finite-gap boundary conditions. By examining the sine-Gordon equation, we study the case of boundary conditions with complex-valued, self-conjugated quasi-periods. We prove the existence and uniqueness theorems in the case of the complex-valued group velocities that appear in the Whitham equations in the case considered. We present a complete picture (uniform in x) of the Whitham deformation for the case of 1-gap boundary conditions in the sine-Gordon equation.Translated from Sovremennaya Matematika i Ee Prilozheniya (Contemporary Mathematics and Its Applications), Vol. 5, Asymptotic Methods, 2003.     

Slow Modulations of Periodic Waves in Hamiltonian PDEs,with Application to Capillary Fluids

Since its elaboration by Whitham almost 50 years ago, modulation theory has been known to be closely related to the stability of periodic traveling waves. However, it is only recently that this relationship has been elucidated and that fully nonlinear results have been obtained. These only concern dissipative systems though: reaction–diffusion systems were first considered by Doelman et al. (Mem Am Math Soc 199(934):viii+105, 2009), and viscous systems of conservation laws have been addressed by Johnson et al. (Invent Math, 2013). Here, only nondissipative models are considered, and a most basic question is investigated, namely, the expected link between the hyperbolicity of modulated equations and the spectral stability of periodic traveling waves to sideband perturbations. This is done first in an abstract Hamiltonian framework, which encompasses a number of dispersive models, in particular the well-known (generalized) Korteweg–de Vries equation and the less known Euler–Korteweg system, in both Eulerian coordinates and Lagrangian coordinates. The latter is itself an abstract framework for several models arising in water wave theory, superfluidity, and quantum hydrodynamics. As regards its application to compressible capillary fluids, attention is paid here to untangle the interplay between traveling waves/modulation equations in Eulerian coordinates and those in Lagrangian coordinates. In the most general setting, it is proved that the hyperbolicity of modulated equations is indeed necessary for the spectral stability of periodic traveling waves. This extends earlier results by Serre (Commun Partial Differ Equ 30(1–3):259–282, 2005), Oh and Zumbrun (Arch Ration Mech Anal 166(2):99–166, 2003), and Johnson et al. (Phys D 239(23–24):2057–2065, 2010). In addition, reduced necessary conditions are obtained in the small-amplitude limit. Then numerical investigations are carried out for the modulated equations of the Euler–Korteweg system with two types of “pressure” laws, namely, the quadratic law of shallow-water equations and the nonmonotone van der Waals pressure law. Both the evolutionarity and the hyperbolicity of the modulated equations are tested, and regions of modulational instability are thus exhibited.     

Exact solutions of Euler equations of ideal gasdynamics via Lie group analysis

In this paper, we explicitly characterize a class of solutions to the first order quasilinear system of partial differential equations (PDEs), governing one dimensional unsteady planar and radially symmetric flows of an adiabatic gas involving shock waves. For this, Lie group analysis is used to identify a finite number of generators that leave the given system of PDEs invariant. Out of these generators, two commuting generators are constructed involving some arbitrary constants. With the help of canonical variables associated with these two generators, the assigned system of PDEs is reduced to an autonomous system, whose simple solutions provide non trivial solutions of the original system. It is interesting to remark that one of the special solutions obtained here, using this approach, is precisely the blast wave solution known in the literature.     

Exact solutions of Euler equations of ideal gasdynamics via Lie group analysis

In this paper, we explicitly characterize a class of solutions to the first order quasilinear system of partial differential equations (PDEs), governing one dimensional unsteady planar and radially symmetric flows of an adiabatic gas involving shock waves. For this, Lie group analysis is used to identify a finite number of generators that leave the given system of PDEs invariant. Out of these generators, two commuting generators are constructed involving some arbitrary constants. With the help of canonical variables associated with these two generators, the assigned system of PDEs is reduced to an autonomous system, whose simple solutions provide non trivial solutions of the original system. It is interesting to remark that one of the special solutions obtained here, using this approach, is precisely the blast wave solution known in the literature.