M`

aster de Matem`
atica Avan
cada
Methods of Mathematical Modelling and Analysis

TRABAJO 3
Exercise 1
Let u(x, t) : R2 R and assume that the following equations model the dependence of u on the variables
x and t:
ut + ux + uxxx = 0
(1)
ut + ux uxxt = 0

(2)

1.

Find the dispersion relations of equations (1) and (2).

2.

Compare these dispersion relations in the limiting cases of long and short waves (cases where k 0
and k respectively, where k denotes the wavenumber).

Exercise 2
1.

Consider the Korteweg - de Vries equation in its normalized form:

ut 6uux + uxxx = 0

(3)

(y), where y x vt, v R. Show

a) Assume travelling wave solutions of the form u(x, t) = u
that function u
satisfies the equation
v
uy + 6
uu
y u
yyy = 0

(4)

b) Integrate once in respect to the travelling variable y to derive the equation

v
u + 3
u2 u
yy = C1

(5)

where C1 is an integration constant

c) Denote w u
y and transform equation (5) into a system of two equations that describe wy
and u
y .
d ) Plot the phase space of the above system of equations (for the different possible values of C1 )
and draw conclusions regarding the different kinds of solutions that can be found for the KdV
equation (3).
2.

Consider now the sine-Gordon equation in its normalized form:

uxx utt = sin(u)

(6)

a) Assume travelling wave solutions of the form u(x, t) = u

(y), where y x vt, v R. Show
that function u
satisfies the equation
(1 v 2 )
uyy = sin(
u)

(7)

b) Proceed as in the KdV case above:

1)
2)

denote w u
y and transform equation (7) into a system of two equations that describe
wy and u
y
plot the phase space of the above system of equations and draw conclusions regarding the
different kinds of solutions that can be found for the SG equation (6).

Exercise 3
Show that the sine-Gordon equation in its normalized form (equation (6)) is invariant under the independent variable transformation (x, t) (, ), where
x vt
=
1 v2

and

t vx
=
1 v2

This invariance shows that the kink and antikink soliton solutions of equation (6) behave like relativistic
particles: they become more narrow as v 1 (Lorentz contraction).

Exercise 4
In 1962, J. K. Perring and T. H. R. Skyrme (Nucl. Phys., 31, p. 550-555) showed that a solution of the
normalized sine-Gordon equation (6) is
"

#
sinh vt/ 1 v 2

u(x, t) = 4 arctan
(8)
v cosh x/ 1 v 2
which describes a kink of velocity +v colliding at the origin with an antikink of velocity v.
1.

Show that solution (8) does indeed represent the interaction of a kink and an antikink:
assume, without loss of generality that v > 0 and evaluate the solution asymptotically as
x and t :
a)
b)

2.

show that in the beginning (t ) solution (8) represents a antikink located at x =

moving with velocity +v and a kink located at x = moving with velocity v
show that at the end (t ) the antikink that moves with velocity +v is located at
x = and the the kink that moves with velocity v is located at x =

show that at the time of the collision (t = 0) the kink and the antikink appear to have cancelled
each other.

Prove that, as a consequence of the interaction, there is a phase difference of = 2 1 v 2 ln v1
for both the kink and the antikink. Are the two solitons retarded, or advanced, by the interaction?

Exercise 5
Consider the following, slightly different, form of the nonlinear Schr
odinger equation
2

iut + uxx u|u| = 0

(9)

and assume a travelling wave solution of the form

u(x, t) = (x vt) exp {i [(x vt) t]}

(10)

where (y) and (y) are real functions of the variable y = x vt, y R and v, are real constants.
1.

Show that
y =

1
v + C1 /2 ,
2

(11)

where C1 is an integration constant.

2.

Show that
2

(y ) =

24 2 (v 2 + 4) C1 2
C2
2 +
,
4
4
4

where C2 is another integration constant.

3.

Denote z(y) [(y)] and show that

2

(zy ) = 2z 3 (4 + v 2 )z 2 + C2 z C1 2 .
4.

(12)

When looking for solitary-wave solutions, V. E. Zakharov and A. B. Shabat (Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz.
64, 1627-1632 (1973) [Sov. Phys. JETP 37, 823-828], 1973) proved that, if we choose the integration
constants such that C1 = v and C2 = 2(v 2 + 2 ) then, for > v 2 /2, relation (12) gives the
soliton solution
2
z(y) = 22 [sech(y)] ,
(13)

1
where 2 2 v 2 .
a) Using (13) show that

n
o1/2
2
(y) = 22 [sech(y)]

b) Prove that

tan [(y)] = 2 tanh(y)

v

(14)

(15)

Hint: start with (15) and go backwards to arrive at relation (11).

Such a solitary-wave solution of equation (9) represents a carrier wave that moves within an envelope.
These solitary-like waves are very important in modelling in the field of nonlinear optics.

Observaciones:
Este trabajo vale 2.5 puntos (1/4 de la nota final de la asignatura).
Los ejercicios son equivalentes.
Cada persona se compromete a hacer este trabajo sin consultar a otras personas.
La evaluaci
on del trabajo tendr
a en cuenta la presentaci
on y la claridad de las respuestas.

Fecha limite y lugar de entrega:

Jueves 14 de junio, 14:00 - 17:00, despacho C1/-130.
3