A3.18

Nonlinear Waves
Part II, 2002

(i) Show that the equation

ϕt2ϕx2+1ϕ2=0\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t}-\frac{\partial^{2} \phi}{\partial x^{2}}+1-\phi^{2}=0

has two solutions which are independent of both xx and tt. Show that one of these is linearly stable. Show that the other solution is linearly unstable, and find the range of wavenumbers that exhibit the instability.

Sketch the nonlinear evolution of the unstable solution after it receives a small, smooth, localized perturbation in the direction towards the stable solution.

(ii) Show that the equations

ux+vx=eu+vuy+vy=euv\begin{array}{r} \frac{\partial u}{\partial x}+\frac{\partial v}{\partial x}=e^{-u+v} \\ -\frac{\partial u}{\partial y}+\frac{\partial v}{\partial y}=e^{-u-v} \end{array}

are a Bäcklund pair for the equations

2uxy=e2u,2vxy=0\frac{\partial^{2} u}{\partial x \partial y}=e^{-2 u}, \quad \frac{\partial^{2} v}{\partial x \partial y}=0

By choosing vv to be a suitable constant, and using the Bäcklund pair, find a solution of the equation

2uxy=e2u\frac{\partial^{2} u}{\partial x \partial y}=e^{-2 u}

which is non-singular in the region y<4xy<4 x of the (x,y)(x, y) plane and has the value u=0u=0 at x=12,y=0x=\frac{1}{2}, y=0.