3.II.37E

Waves
Part II, 2005

The real function ϕ(x,t)\phi(x, t) satisfies the equation

ϕt+Uϕx=3ϕx3,\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t}+U \frac{\partial \phi}{\partial x}=\frac{\partial^{3} \phi}{\partial x^{3}},

where U>0U>0 is a constant. Find the dispersion relation for waves of wavenumber kk and deduce whether wave crests move faster or slower than a wave packet.

Suppose that ϕ(x,0)\phi(x, 0) is given by a Fourier transform as

ϕ(x,0)=A(k)eikxdk\phi(x, 0)=\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} A(k) e^{i k x} d k

Use the method of stationary phase to find ϕ(Vt,t)\phi(V t, t) as tt \rightarrow \infty for fixed V>UV>U.

[You may use the result that eaξ2dξ=(π/a)1/2\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-a \xi^{2}} d \xi=(\pi / a)^{1 / 2} if Re(a)0.]\left.\operatorname{Re}(a) \geqslant 0 .\right]

What can be said if V<UV<U ? [Detailed calculation is not required in this case.]