The Whitham equation is a nonlocal shallow water-wave model which combines the quadratic nonlinearity of the KdV equation with the linear dispersion of the full water wave problem. Whitham conjectured the existence of a highest, cusped, traveling-wave solution, and his conjecture was recently verified in the periodic case by Ehrnström and Wahlén. In the present paper we prove it for solitary waves. Like in the periodic case, the proof is based on global bifurcation theory but with several new challenges. In particular, the small-amplitude limit is singular and cannot be handled using regular bifurcation theory. Instead we use an approach based on a nonlocal version of the center manifold theorem. In the large-amplitude theory a new challenge is a possible loss of compactness, which we rule out using qualitative properties of the equation. The highest wave is found as a limit point of the global bifurcation curve.
In this paper, we consider the Fornberg-Whitham equation and a family of solitary wave solutions is found by using minimization principle, where a related penalization function and the concentration-compactness lemma play a key role in our proof. Besides, we also prove that the family of solitary solutions is orbital stable and decay exponentially when speed wave c is bigger than 1.
In this note we study solitary wave solutions of a class of Whitham-Boussinesq systems which includes the bi-directional Whitham system as a special example. The travelling wave version of the evolution system can be reduced to a single evolution equation, similar to a class of equations studied by Ehrnström, Groves and Wahlén. In that paper the authors prove the existence of solitary wave solutions using a constrained minimization argument adapted to noncoercive functionals, developed by Buffoni, Groves and Wahlén, together with the concentration-compactness principle.
The travelling wave problem for a particular bidirectional Whitham system modelling surface water waves is under consideration. This system firstly appeared in [Dinvay, Dutykh, Kalisch 2018], where it was numerically shown to be stable and a good approximation to the incompressible Euler equations. In subsequent papers [Dinvay 2018], [Dinvay, Selberg, Tesfahun 2019] the initial-value problem was studied and well-posedness in classical Sobolev spaces was proved. Here we prove existence of solitary wave solutions and provide their asymptotic description. Our proof relies on a variational approac…
Using a nonlocal version of the center manifold theorem and a normal form reduction, we prove the existence of small-amplitude generalized solitary-wave solutions and modulated solitary-wave solutions to the steady gravity-capillary Whitham equation with weak surface tension. Through the application of the center manifold theorem, the nonlocal equation for the solitary wave profiles is reduced to a four-dimensional system of ODEs inheriting reversibility. Along particular parameter curves, relating directly to the classical gravity-capillary water wave problem, the associated linear operator i…
We study the existence of traveling wave solutions to a unidirectional shallow water model which incorporates the full linear dispersion relation for both gravitational and capillary restoring forces. Using functional analytic techniques, we show that for small surface tension (corresponding to Bond numbers between $0$ and ${1}/{3}$) there exists small amplitude solitary waves that decay to asymptotically small periodic waves at spatial infinity. The size of the oscillations in the far field are shown to be small beyond all algebraic orders in the amplitude of the wave. We also present numeric…
Starting with the periodic waves earlier constructed for the gravity Whitham equation, we parameterise the solution curves through relative wave height, and use a limiting argument to obtain a full family of solitary waves. The resulting branch starts from the zero solution, traverses unique points in the wave speed-wave height space, and reaches a singular highest wave at $φ(0) = \fracμ{2}$. The construction is based on uniform estimates improved from earlier work on periodic waves for the same equation, together with limiting arguments and a Galilean transform to exclude vanishing waves and …
This paper is concerned with decay and symmetry properties of solitary wave solutions to a nonlocal shallow water wave model. It is shown that all supercritical solitary wave solutions are symmetric and monotone on either side of the crest. The proof is based on a priori decay estimates and the method of moving planes. Furthermore, a close relation between symmetric and traveling wave solutions is established.
Recently, two different proofs for large and intermediate-size solitary waves of the nonlocally dispersive Whitham equation have been presented, using either global bifurcation theory or the limit of waves of large period. We give here a different approach by maximising directly the dispersive part of the energy functional, while keeping the remaining nonlinear terms fixed with an Orlicz-space constraint. This method is to our knowledge new in the setting of water waves. The constructed solutions are bell-shaped in the sense that they are even, one-sided monotone, and attain their maximum at t…
We show existence of small solitary and periodic traveling-wave solutions in Sobolev spaces ${\mathrm{H}^s}$, ${ s > 0 }$, to a class of nonlinear, dispersive evolution equations of the form \begin{equation*} u_t + \left(Lu+ n(u)\right)_x = 0, \end{equation*} where the dispersion ${L}$ is a negative-order Fourier multiplier whose symbol is of KdV type at low frequencies and has integrable Fourier inverse ${ K }$ and the nonlinearity ${n}$ is inhomogeneous, locally Lipschitz and of superlinear growth at the origin. This generalises earlier work by Ehrnström, Groves & Wahlén on a class of equati…
In this paper we consider the decay rate of solitary-wave solutions to some classes of non-linear and non-local dispersive equations, including for example the Whitham equation and a Whitham--Boussinesq system. The dispersive term is represented by a Fourier multiplier operator that has a real analytic symbol, and we show that all supercritical solitary-wave solutions decay exponentially, and moreover provide the exact decay rate, which in general will depend on the speed of the wave. We also prove that solitary waves have only one crest and are symmetric for some class of equations.
We consider several different bidirectional Whitham equations that have recently appeared in the literature. Each of these models combine the full two-way dispersion relation from the incompressible Euler equations with a canonical shallow water nonlinearity, providing nonlocal model equations that may be expected to exhibit some of the interesting high-frequency phenomena present in the Euler equations that standard "long-wave" theories fail to capture. Of particular interest here is the existence and stability of periodic traveling wave solutions in such models. Using numerical bifurcation t…
We study the bifurcation of periodic travelling waves of the capillary-gravity Whitham equation. This is a nonlinear pseudo-differential equation that combines the canonical shallow water nonlinearity with the exact (unidirectional) dispersion for finite-depth capillary-gravity waves. Starting from the line of zero solutions, we give a complete description of all small periodic solutions, unimodal as well bimodal, using simple and double bifurcation via Lyapunov--Schmidt reductions. Included in this study is the resonant case when one wavenumber divides another. Some bifurcation formulas are s…
We numerically study solitary waves in the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. We detect pitchfork bifurcations of the fundamental solitary wave and compute eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the corresponding eigenvalue problems to determine the spectral stability of solitary waves born at the pitchfork bifurcations. Our numerical results demonstrate the theoretical ones which the authors obtained recently. We also compute generalized eigenfunctions associated with the zero eigenvalue for the bifurcated solitary wave exhibiting a saddle-node bifurcation, and show that it does not change i…
We are concerned with numerical approximations of breather solutions for the cubic Whitham equation which arises as a water-wave model for interfacial waves. The model combines strong nonlinearity with the non-local character of the water-wave problem. The equation is non-integrable as suggested by the inelastic interaction of solitary waves. As a non local model, it generalizes, in the low frequency limit, the well known modified KdV (mKdV) equation which is a completely-integrable model. The mKdV equation has breather solutions, i.e. periodic in time and localized in space biparametric solut…
We study bifurcations and spectral stability of solitary waves in coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations (CNLS) on the line. We assume that the coupled equations possess a solution of which one component is identically zero, and call it a $\textit{fundamental solitary wave}$. By using a result of one of the authors and his collaborator, the bifurcations of the fundamental solitary wave are detected. We utilize the Hamiltonian-Krein index theory and Evans function technique to determine the spectral or orbital stability of the bifurcated solitary waves as well as as that of the fundamental one…
We prove that the modulational instability criterion of the formal Whitham modulation theory agrees with the spectral stability of long wavelength perturbations of periodic travelling wave solutions to the generalized Whitham equation. We use the standard WKB procedure to derive a quasi-linear system of three Whitham modulation equations, written in terms of the mass, momentum, and wave number of a periodic travelling wave solution. We use the same quantities as parameters in a rigorous spectral perturbation of the linearized operator, which allows us to track the bifurcation of the zero eigen…
The Boussinesq $abcd$ system arises in the modeling of long wave small amplitude water waves in a channel, where the four parameters $(a,b,c,d)$ satisfy one constraint. In this paper we focus on the solitary wave solutions to such a system. In particular we work in two parameter regimes where the system does not admit a Hamiltonian structure (corresponding to $b \ne d$). We prove via analytic global bifurcation techniques the existence of solitary waves in such parameter regimes. Some qualitative properties of the solutions are also derived, from which sharp results can be obtained for the glo…
Validity of Whitham's modulation equations for dissipative systems with a conservation law -- Phase dynamics in a generalized Ginzburg-Landau system --
We consider the Whitham equation $u_t + 2u u_x+Lu_x = 0$, where L is the nonlocal Fourier multiplier operator given by the symbol $m(ξ) = \sqrt{\tanh ξ/ξ}$. G. B. Whitham conjectured that for this equation there would be a highest, cusped, travelling-wave solution. We find this wave as a limiting case at the end of the main bifurcation curve of $P$-periodic solutions, and give several qualitative properties of it, including its optimal $C^{1/2}$-regularity. An essential part of the proof consists in an analysis of the integral kernel corresponding to the symbol $m(ξ)$, and a following study of…
We consider two-dimensional inviscid irrotational flow in a two layer fluid under the effects of gravity and surface tension. The upper fluid is bounded above by a rigid lid, and the lower fluid is bounded below by a rigid bottom. We use a spatial dynamics approach and formulate the steady Euler equations as a Hamiltonian system, where we consider the unbounded horizontal coordinate $x$ as a time-like coordinate. The linearization of the Hamiltonian system is studied, and bifurcation curves in the $(β,α)$-plane are obtained, where $α$ and $β$ are two parameters. The curves depend on two additi…
We prove existence and conditional energetic stability of solitary-wave solutions for the two classes of pseudodifferential equations $ u_t+\left(f(u)\right)_x-\left(L u\right)_x=0 $ and $ u_t+\left(f(u)\right)_x+\left(L u\right)_t=0, $ where $f$ is a nonlinear term, typically of the form $c|u|^p$ or $cu|u|^{p-1}$, and $L$ is a Fourier multiplier operator of positive order. The former class includes for instance the Whitham equation with capillary effects and the generalized Korteweg-de Vries equation, and the latter the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation. Existence and conditional energetic stabil…
This paper considers two-dimensional steady solitary waves with constant vorticity propagating under the influence of gravity over an impermeable flat bed. Unlike in previous works on solitary waves, we allow for both internal stagnation points and overhanging wave profiles. Using analytic global bifurcation theory, we construct continuous curves of large-amplitude solutions. Along these curves, either the wave amplitude approaches the maximum possible value, the dimensionless wave speed becomes unbounded, or a singularity develops in a conformal map describing the fluid domain. We also show t…
We present a large-amplitude existence theory for two-dimensional solitary waves propagating through a two layer body of water. The domain of the fluid is bounded below by an impermeable flat ocean floor and above by a free boundary at constant pressure. For any piecewise smooth upstream density distribution and laminar background current, we construct a global curve of solutions. This curve bifurcates from the background current and, following along the curve, we find waves that are arbitrarily close to having horizontal stagnation points. The small-amplitude waves are constructed using a cen…
Of concern are traveling wave solutions for the fractional Kadomtsev--Petviashvili (fKP) equation. The existence of periodically modulated solitary wave solutions is proved by dimension breaking bifurcation. Moreover, the line solitary wave solutions and their transverse (in)stability are discussed. Analogous to the classical Kadmomtsev--Petviashvili (KP) equation, the fKP equation comes in two versions: fKP-I and fKP-II. We show that the line solitary waves of fKP-I equation are transversely linearly instable. We also perform numerical experiments to observe the (in)stability dynamics of line…
We prove the existence of highest, cusped, periodic travelling-wave solutions with exact and optimal $ α$-Hölder continuity in a class of fractional negative-order dispersive equations of the form \begin{equation*} u_t + (| \mathrm{D} |^{- α} u + n(u) )_x = 0 \end{equation*} for every $ α\in (0, 1) $ with homogeneous Fourier multiplier $ | \mathrm{D} |^{ - α} $. We tackle nonlinearities $ n(u) $ of the type $ | u |^p $ or $ u | u |^{p - 1} $ for all real $ p > 1 $, and show that when $ n $ is odd, the waves also feature antisymmetry and thus contain inverted cusps. Tools involve detailed point…
We study a class of discrete focusing nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger equations (DNLS) with general nonlocal interactions. We prove the existence of onsite and offsite discrete solitary waves, which bifurcate from the trivial solution at the endpoint frequency of the continuous spectrum of linear dispersive waves. We also prove exponential smallness, in the frequency-distance to the bifurcation point, of the Peierls-Nabarro energy barrier (PNB), as measured by the difference in Hamiltonian or mass functionals evaluated on the onsite and offsite states. These results extend those of the authors for the…
We consider the two-dimensional problem for steady water waves with vorticity on water of finite depth. While neglecting the effects of surface tension we construct connected families of large amplitude periodic waves approaching the limiting wave, which is either a solitary wave, the highest solitary wave, the highest Stokes wave or a Stokes wave with a breaking profile. In particular, when the vorticity is nonnegative we prove the existence of highest Stokes waves with an included angle of 120 degrees. In contrast to previous studies we fix the Bernoulli constant and consider the wavelength …
It is well known that the water-wave problem with weak surface tension has small-amplitude line solitary-wave solutions which to leading order are described by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The present paper contains an existence theory for three-dimensional periodically modulated solitary-wave solutions which have a solitary-wave profile in the direction of propagation and are periodic in the transverse direction; they emanate from the line solitary waves in a dimension-breaking bifurcation. In addition, it is shown that the line solitary waves are linearly unstable to long-wavelength t…
We consider a system of first order coupled mode equations in $\mathbb{R}^d$ describing the envelopes of wavepackets in nonlinear periodic media. Under the assumptions of a spectral gap and a generic assumption on the dispersion relation at the spectral edge, we prove the bifurcation of standing gap solitons of the coupled mode equations from the zero solution. The proof is based on a Lyapunov-Schmidt decomposition in Fourier variables and a nested Banach fixed point argument. The reduced bifurcation equation is a perturbed stationary nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The existence of solitary w…
We consider the existence of periodic traveling waves in a bidirectional Whitham equation, combining the full two-way dispersion relation from the incompressible Euler equations with a canonical shallow water nonlinearity. Of particular interest is the existence of a highest, cusped, traveling wave solution, which we obtain as a limiting case at the end of the main bifurcation branch of $2π$-periodic traveling wave solutions continuing from the zero state. Unlike the unidirectional Whitham equation, containing only one branch of the full Euler dispersion relation, where such a highest wave beh…
We study the point spectrum of the linearization at a solitary wave solution $ϕ_ω(x)e^{-\mathrm{i}ωt}$ to the nonlinear Dirac equation in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $n\ge 1$, with the nonlinear term given by $f(ψ^*βψ)βψ$ (known as the Soler model). We focus on the spectral stability, that is, the absence of eigenvalues with nonzero real part, in the non-relativistic limit $ω\lesssim m$, in the case when $f\in C^1(\mathbb{R}\setminus\{0\})$, $f(τ)=|τ|^k+O(|τ|^K)$ for $τ\to 0$, with $0<k<K$. For $n\ge 1$, we prove the spectral stability of small amplitude solitary waves ($ω\lesssim m$) for the charge-subcr…
Choosing $κ$ (horizontal ordinate of the saddle point associated to the homoclinic orbit) as bifurcation parameter, bifurcations of the travelling wave solutions is studied in a perturbed $(1 + 1)$-dimensional dispersive long wave equation. The solitary wave solution exists at a suitable wave speed $c$ for the bifurcation parameter $κ\in (0,1-\frac{\sqrt3}{3})\cup (1+\frac{\sqrt3}{3},2)$, while the kink and anti-kink wave solutions exist at a unique wave speed $c^*=\sqrt{15}/3$ for $κ=0$ or $κ=2$. The methods are based on the geometric singular perturbation (GSP, for short) approach, Melnikov …
The Maslov index is a powerful tool for assessing the stability of solitary waves. Although it is difficult to calculate in general, a framework for doing so was recently established for singularly perturbed systems. In this paper, we apply this framework to standing wave solutions of a three-component activator-inhibitor model. These standing waves are known to become unstable as parameters vary. Our goal is to see how this established stability criterion manifests itself in the Maslov index calculation. In so doing, we obtain new insight into the mechanism for instability. We further suggest…
We develop a global bifurcation theory for two classes of nonlinear elastic materials. It is supposed that they are subjected to anti-plane shear deformation and occupy an infinite cylinder in the reference configuration. Curves of solutions to the corresponding elastostatic problem are constructed using analytic global bifurcation theory. The curve associated with first class is shown to exhibit broadening behavior, while for the second we find that the governing equation undergoes a loss ellipticity in the limit. A sequence of solutions undergoes broadening when their effective supports grow…
University of Alabama（阿拉巴马大学）；CONSERVE Center, Alabama Water Institute, The University of Alabama（阿拉巴马大学阿拉巴马水研究所CONSERVE中心）；University of Missouri（密苏里大学）
We consider three-dimensional inviscid irrotational flow in a two layer fluid under the effects of gravity and surface tension, where the upper fluid is bounded above by a rigid lid and the lower fluid is bounded below by a flat bottom. We use a spatial dynamics approach and formulate the steady Euler equations as an infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian system, where an unbounded spatial direction $x$ is considered as a time-like coordinate. In addition we consider wave motions that are periodic in another direction $z$. By analyzing the dispersion relation we detect several bifurcation scenarios,…
