arXiv · 1602.05384
On Whitham's conjecture of a highest cusped wave for a nonlocal dispersive equation
Abstract
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 $m(\xi) = \sqrt{\tanh \xi /\xi}$. 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 $m(\xi)$, and a following study of the highest wave. In particular, we show that the integral kernel corresponding to the symbol $m(\xi)$ is completely monotone, and provide an explicit representation formula for it.
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Mats Ehrnstrom, Erik Wahlén. 2016-02-17. On Whitham's conjecture of a highest cusped wave for a nonlocal dispersive equation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anihpc.2019.02.006
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