# Solitons, Peakons, and Periodic Cuspons of a Generalized Degasperis-Procesi Equation

Authors: Jiangbo Zhou; Lixin Tian
Journal: Mathematical Problems in Engineering
 (2009)

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## Abstract

We employ the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems to
investigate the exact travelling wave solutions of a generalized Degasperis-Procesi
equationut−uxxt+4uux+γ(u−uxx)x=3uxuxx+uuxxx. The implicit expression of
smooth soliton solutions is given. The explicit expressions of peaked soliton solutions
and periodic cuspon solutions are also obtained. Further, we show the relationship
among the smooth soliton solutions, the peaked soliton solutions, and the periodic
cuspon solutions. The physical relevance of the found solutions and the reason why
these solutions can exist in this equation are also given.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Recently, Degasperis and Procesi [1] derived a nonlinear dispersive equation
(1.1)ut-uxxt+4uux=3uxuxx+uuxxx
which is called the Degasperis-Procesi equation. Here u(t,x) represents the fluid velocity at time t in the x direction in appropriate nondimensional units (or, equivalently the height of the water's free surface above a flat bottom). The nonlinear convection term uux in (1.1) causes the steepening of wave form, whereas the nonlinear dispersion effect term 3uxuxx+uuxxx=((1/2)u2)xxx in (1.1) makes the wave form spread. Equation (1.1) can be regarded as a model for nonlinear shallow water dynamics. Degasperis et al. [2] showed that the (1.1) is integrable by deriving a Lax pair and a bi-Hamiltonian structure for it. Yin proved local well posedness to (1.1) with initial data u0∈Hs(ℝ), s>3 on the line [3] and on the circle [4]. The global existence of strong solutions and weak solutions to (1.1) is investigated in [4–10]. The solution to Cauchy problem of (1.1) can also blow up in finite time when the initial data satisfies certain sign condition[7–10]. Vakhnenko and Parkes [11] obtained periodic and solitary-wave solutions of (1.1). Matsuno [12, 13] obtained multisoliton, cusp and loop soliton solutions of (1.1). Lundmark and Szmigielski [14] investigated multipeakon solutions of (1.1). Lenells [15] classified all weak travelling wave solutions. The shock wave solutions of (1.1) are investigated in [16, 17].Yu and Tian [18] investigated the following generalized Degasperis-Procesi equation:
(1.2)ut-uxxt+4uux=3uxuxx+uuxxx-γuxxx,
where γ is a real constant, and the term uxxx denotes the linear dispersive effect. They obtained peaked soliton solutions and period cuspon solutions of (1.2). Unfortunately, they did not obtain smooth soliton solutions of (1.2).In this paper, we are interesting in the following generalized Degasperis-Procesi equation:(1.3)ut-uxxt+4uux+γ(u-uxx)x=3uxuxx+uuxxx,
where γ is a real constant, the term ux denotes the dissipative effect and the term uxxx represents the linear dispersive effect. Employing the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems, we obtain the analytic expressions of smooth solitons, peaked solitons, and period cuspons of (1.3). Our work covers and supplements the results obtained in [18].The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. In Section2, using the travelling wave transformation, we transform (1.3) into the planar dynamical system (2.3) and then discuss bifurcations of phase portraits of system (2.3). In Section 3, we obtain the implicit expression of smooth solitons, the explicit expressions of peaked solitons and periodic cuspon solutions. At the same time, we show that the limits of smooth solitons and periodic cusp waves are peaked solitons. In Section 4, we discuss the physical relevance of the found solutions and give the reason why these solutions can exist in (1.3).


## 2. Bifurcations of Phase Portraits of System (2.3)

We look for travelling wave solutions of (1.3) in the form of u(x,t)=φ(x-ct)=φ(ξ), where c is the wave speed and ξ=x-ct. Substituting u=φ(ξ) into (1.3), we obtain
(2.1)-cφ′+cφ′′′+4φφ′-3φ′φ′′-φφ′′′+γφ′-γφ′′′=0.By integrating (2.1) once we have
(2.2)φ′′(φ-c+γ)=g-(c-γ)φ+2φ2-(φ′)2,
where g is the integral constant.Lety=φ′, then we get the following planar dynamical system:
(2.3)dφdξ=y,dydξ=g-(c-γ)φ+2φ2-y2φ-c+γ,
with a first integral
(2.4)H(φ,y)=(φ-c+γ)2(y2-φ2-g)=h,
where h is a constant.Note that (2.3) has a singular line φ=c-γ. To avoid the line temporarily we make transformation dξ=(φ-c+γ)dζ. Under this transformation, (2.3) becomes
(2.5)dφdζ=(φ-c+γ)y,dydζ=g-(c-γ)φ+2φ2-y2.System (2.3) and system (2.5) have the same first integral as (2.4). Consequently, system (2.5) has the same topological phase portraits as system (2.3) except for the straight line φ=c-γ. Obviously, φ=c-γ is an invariant straight-line solution for system (2.5).For a fixedh, (2.4) determines a set of invariant curves of system (2.5). As h is varied, (2.4) determines different families of orbits of system (2.5) having different dynamical behaviors. Let M(φe,ye) be the coefficient matrix of the linearized system of (2.5) at the equilibrium point (φe,ye), then(2.6)M(φe,ye)=(yeφe-c+γ4φe-c+γ-2ye),
and at this equilibrium point, we have
(2.7)J(φe,ye)=detM(φe,ye)=-2ye2-(φe-c+γ)(4φe-c+γ),p(φe,ye)=trace(M(φe,ye))=-ye.
By the qualitative theory of differential equations (see [19]), for an equilibrium point of a planar dynamical system, if J<0, then this equilibrium point is a saddle point; it is a center point if J>0 and p=0; if J=0 and the Poincaré index of the equilibrium point is 0, then it is a cusp.By using the first integral value and properties of equilibrium points, we obtain the bifurcation curves as follows:(2.8)g1(c)=(c-γ)28,g2(c)=-(c-γ)2.
Obviously, the two curves have no intersection point and g2(c)<0<g1(c) for arbitrary constants c≠γ.Using bifurcation method of vector fields (e.g., [19]), we have the following result which describes the locations and properties of the singular points of system (2.5).Theorem 2.1.
For a given constant wave speedc≠0, let
(2.9)φ0±=c-γ±(c-γ)2-8g4forg≤g1(c),(2.10)y0±=±(c-γ)2+gforg≥g2(c).
When c=γ,(1)
ifg<0, then system (2.5) has two equilibrium points (--g/2,0) and (-g/2,0), which are saddle points;(2)
ifg=0, then system (2.5) has only one equilibrium point (0,0), which is a cusp;(3)
ifg>0, then system (2.5) has two equilibrium points (0,-g) and (0,g), which are saddle points.When c≠γ,(1)
ifg<g2(c), then system (2.5) has two equilibrium points (φ0-,0) and (φ0+,0). They are saddle points:
(i)
ifc>γ, then φ0-<-1/2(c-γ)<1/4(c-γ)<c-γ<φ0+,(ii)
ifc<γ, then φ0-<c-γ<1/4(c-γ)<-1/2(c-γ)<φ0+;(2)
ifg=g2(c), then system (2.5) has three equilibrium points (φ0-,0), (φ0+,0), and (c-γ,0). (c-γ,0) is a cusp:
(i)
ifc>γ, then φ0-=-(1/2)(c-γ)<(1/4)(c-γ)<c-γ=φ0+. (φ0-,0) is a saddle point, while (φ0+,0) is a degenerate center point,(ii)
ifc<γ, then φ0-=c-γ<1/4(c-γ)<-1/2(c-γ)=φ0+. (φ0-,0) is a degenerate center point, while (φ0+,0) is a saddle point;(3)
ifg2(c)<g<g1(c), then system (2.5) has four equilibrium points (φ0-,0), (φ0+,0), (c-γ,y0-), and (c-γ,y0+). (c-γ,y0-) and (c-γ,y0+) are two saddle points:
(i)
ifc>γ, then φ0-<1/4(c-γ)<φ0+≤c-γ. (φ0-,0) is a saddle point, while (φ0+,0) is a center point,(ii)
ifc<γ, then c-γ≤φ0-<1/4(c-γ)<φ0+. (φ0-,0) is a center point, while (φ0+,0) is a saddle point.
Specially, wheng=0,
(i)
ifc>γ, then the three saddle points (φ0-,0), (c-γ,y0-), and (c-γ,y0+) form a triangular orbit which encloses the center point (φ0+,0),(ii)
ifc<γ, then the three saddle points (φ0+,0), (c-γ,y0-), and (c-γ,y0+) form a triangular orbit which encloses the center point (φ0-,0);(4)
ifg=g1(c), then system (2.5) has three equilibrium points ((c-γ)/4,0), (c-γ,y0-), and (c-γ,y0+). ((c-γ)/4,0) is a degenerate center point, while (c-γ,y0-) and (c-γ,y0+) are two saddle points;(5)
ifg>g1(c), then system (2.5) has two equilibrium points (c-γ,y0-) and (c-γ,y0+), which are saddle points.Corresponding to the casec=γ and the case c≠γ, we show the phase portraits of system (2.5) in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.The phase portraits of system (2.5)(c=γ). (a) g<0; (b) g=0; (c) g>0.
(a)(b)(c)The phase portraits of system (2.5) (c≠γ). (a) g<g2(c),c>γ; (b) g<g2(c),c<γ; (c) g=g2(c),c>γ; (d)g=g2(c),c<γ; (e) g2(c)<g<0,c>γ; (f) g2(c)<g<0,c<γ; (g) g=0,c>γ; (h) g=0,c<γ; (i) 0<g<g1(c),c>γ; (j) 0<g<g1(c),c<γ; (k) g=g1(c),c>γ; (l) g=g1(c),c<γ; (m)g>g1(c),c>γ; (n)g>g1(c),c<γ.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j)(k)(l)(m)(n)


## 3. Solitons, Peakons, and Periodic Cusp Wave Solutions

Theorem 3.1.
Given arbitrary constantc≠γ, let ξ=x-ct, then(1)
when0<g<g1(c),
(i)
ifc>γ, then (1.3) has the following smooth hump-like soliton solutions:
(3.1)β1(φ1+)=β1(φ)e-|ξ|forφ0-<φ<φ1+,(ii)
ifc<γ, then (1.3) has the following smooth valley-like soliton solutions:
(3.2)β2(φ)=β2(φ1-)e-|ξ|forφ1-<φ<φ0+,(2)
wheng=0, (1.3) has the following peaked soliton solutions:
(3.3)φ=(c-γ)e-|ξ|,(3)
wheng2(c)<g<0,
(i)
ifc>γ, then (1.3) has the following periodic cusp wave solutions:
(3.4)u(x,t)=φ3(x-ct-2nT)for(2n-1)T<x-ct<(2n+1)T,(ii)
ifc<γ, then (1.3) has the following periodic cusp wave solutions:
(3.5)u(x,t)=φ4(x-ct-2nT)for(2n-1)T<x-ct<(2n+1)T,
where
(3.6)β1(φ)=(2φ2+l1φ+l2+2φ+l1)(φ-φ0-)α1(2a1φ2+l1φ+l2+b1φ+l3)α1,β2(φ)=(2φ2+m1φ+m2+2φ+m1)(φ-φ0+)α2(2a2φ2+m1φ+m2+b2φ+m3)α2,l1=-3(c-γ)+(c-γ)2-8g2,l2=3(c-γ)2-4g+5(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g8,l3=(c-γ)2-4g+3(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g2,m1=-3(c-γ)-(c-γ)2-8g2,m2=3(c-γ)2-4g-5(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g8,m3=(c-γ)2-4g-3(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g2,a1=(c-γ)2-8g+3(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g4,a2=(c-γ)2-8g-3(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g4,b1=-(c-γ)-(c-γ)2-8g,b2=-(c-γ)+(c-γ)2-8g,α1=-3(c-γ)+(c-γ)2-8g2(c-γ)2-8g+3(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g,α2=-3(c-γ)+(c-γ)2-8g2(c-γ)2-8g-3(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g,φ3(ξ)=l+e-|ξ|+l-e|ξ|for-g≤φ3≤c-γ,φ4(ξ)=l+e|ξ|+l-e-|ξ|forc-γ≤φ4≤--g,l±=c-γ±(c-γ)2+g2,T=|ln(-g+-2g)-ln(2l-)|.φ1±=34(c-γ)±14(c-γ)2-8g∓12(c-γ)2∓(c-γ)(c-γ)2-8g,φ0+ and φ0- are as in (2.9).Before proving this theorem, we take a set of data and employ Maple to display the graphs of smooth solion, peaked soliton and periodic cuspon solutions of (1.3), see Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.Smooth hump-like soliton solutions of (1.3)(c=2, γ=1). (a) g=0.12; (b) g=0.1; (c) g=0.075; (d) g=0.05.
(a)(b)(c)(d)Smooth valley-like soliton solutions of (1.3) (c=1, γ=2). (a) g=0.12; (b) g=0.1; (c) g=0.075; (d) g=0.05.
(a)(b)(c)(d)Peaked soliton solutions of (1.3). (a) c=2, γ=1; (b) c=1, γ=2.
(a)(b)Period cuspon solutions of (1.3) (c=2, γ=1). (a) g=-0.4; (b) g=-0.1; (c) g=-0.01; (d) g=-0.0000001.
(a)(b)(c)(d)Period cuspon solutions of (1.3) (c=1, γ=2). (a) g =-0.4; (b) g=-0.1; (c) g=-0.01; (d) g=-0.0000001.
(a)(b)(c)(d)Proof.
Usually, a solion solution of (1.3) corresponds to a homoclinic orbit of system (2.5), and a periodic travelling wave solution of (1.3) corresponds to a periodic orbit of system (2.5). The graphs of homoclinic orbit, periodic orbit of system (2.5), and their limit curves are shown in Figure 8.
(1) When0<g<g1(c),c>γ, system (2.5) has a homoclinic orbit (see Figure 8(a)). This homoclinic orbit can be expressed as
(3.7)y=±(φ-φ0-)φ2+l1φ+l2c-γ-φforφ0-<φ<φ1+.
Substituting (3.7) into the first equation of system (2.3) and integrating along this homoclinic orbit, we obtain (3.1).
When0<g<g1(c),c<γ, we can obtain (3.2) in similar way.
(2) Wheng=0,c>γ, system (2.5) has a homoclinic orbit that consists of the following three line segments (see Figure 8(c)):
(3.8)y=±φforφ0-≤φ≤φ1+,(3.9)φ=c-γfor-(c-γ)2+g≤y≤(c-γ)2+g.
Substituting (3.8) into the first equation of system (2.3) and integrating along this orbit, we obtain (3.3).
Wheng=0,c<γ, we can also obtain (3.3).
(3) Wheng2(c)<g<0,c>γ, system (2.5) has a periodic orbit (see Figure 8(e)). This periodic orbit can be expressed as
(3.10)y=±φ2+gfor-g≤φ≤c-γ,(3.11)φ=c-γfor-(c-γ)2+g≤y≤(c-γ)2+g.
Substituting (3.10) into the first equation of system (2.3) and integrating along this periodic orbit, we obtain (3.4).
Wheng2(c)<g<0,c<γ, we can obtain (3.5).The orbits of system (2.5) connecting with the saddle points. (a) 0<g<g1(c),c>γ; (b) 0<g<g1(c),c<γ; (c) g=0,c>γ; (d) g=0,c<γ; (e) g2(c)<g<0,c>γ; (f) g2(c)<g<0,c<γ.
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)Remark 3.2.
From the above discussion, we can see that wheng<0,g→0, the period of the periodic cusp wave solution becomes bigger and bigger, and the periodic cuspon solutions (3.4) and (3.5) tend to the peaked soliton solutions (3.3). When g>0,g→0, the smooth hump-like soliton solutions (3.1) and the smooth valley-like soliton solutions (3.2) lose their smoothness and tend to the peaked soliton solutions (3.3).


## 4. Discussion

In this paper, we obtain the solitons, peakons, and periodic cuspons of a generalized Degasperis-Procesi equation (1.3). These solitons denote the nonlinear localized waves on the shallow water's free surface that retain their individuality under interaction and eventually travel with their original shapes and speeds. The balance between the nonlinear steepening and dispersion effect under (1.3) gives rise to these solitons.The peakon travels with speed equal to its peak amplitude. This solution is nonanalytic, having a jump in derivative at its peak. Peakons are true solitons that interact via elastic collisions under (1.3). We claim that the existence of a singular straight line for the planar dynamical system (2.3) is the original reason why the travelling waves lose their smoothness.Also, the periodic cuspon solution is nonanalytic, having a jump in derivative at its each cusp.



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