Download or read book Nonlinear Periodic Waves and Their Modulations written by A M Kamchatnov and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2000-09-05 with total page 396 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although the mathematical theory of nonlinear waves and solitons has made great progress, its applications to concrete physical problems are rather poor, especially when compared with the classical theory of linear dispersive waves and nonlinear fluid motion. The Whitham method, which describes the combining action of the dispersive and nonlinear effects as modulations of periodic waves, is not widely used by applied mathematicians and physicists, though it provides a direct and natural way to treat various problems in nonlinear wave theory. Therefore it is topical to describe recent developments of the Whitham theory in a clear and simple form suitable for applications in various branches of physics. This book develops the techniques of the theory of nonlinear periodic waves at elementary level and in great pedagogical detail. It provides an introduction to a Whitham's theory of modulation in a form suitable for applications. The exposition is based on a thorough analysis of representative examples taken from fluid mechanics, nonlinear optics and plasma physics rather than on the formulation and study of a mathematical theory. Much attention is paid to physical motivations of the mathematical methods developed in the book. The main applications considered include the theory of collisionless shock waves in dispersive systems and the nonlinear theory of soliton formation in modulationally unstable systems. Exercises are provided to amplify the discussion of important topics such as singular perturbation theory, Riemann invariants, the finite gap integration method, and Whitham equations and their solutions. Contents:Introduction and Basic ConceptsNonlinear Wave Equations in PhysicsWhitham Theory of ModulationsComplete Integrability of Nonlinear Wave EquationsPeriodic SolutionsDissipationless Shock WaveNonlinear Theory of Modulational InstabilityAppendices:Some Formulas from the Theory of Elliptic FunctionsAlgebraic Resolvents of Fourth Degree PolynomialsSolutions to Exercises Readership: Advanced graduate students and young researchers in nonlinear wave theory. Keywords:Nonlinear Waves;Solitons;Integrable Equations;Inverse Scattering Transform;Periodic Solutions;Whitham Theory;Modulation;Hodograph Transform;Dissipationless Shock Waves;Modulational Instability