Variational derivation of the Camassa-Holm shallow water equation

We describe the physical hypothesis in which an approximate model of water waves is obtained. For an irrotational unidirectional shallow water flow, we derive the Camassa-Holm equation by a variational approach in the Lagrangian formalism.Comment: 10 page

Blowup issues for a class of nonlinear dispersive wave equations

In this paper we consider the nonlinear dispersive wave equation on the real line, $u_t-u_{txx}+[f(u)]_x-[f(u)]_{xxx}+\bigl[g(u)+\frac{f''(u)}{2}u_x^2\bigr]_x=0$, that for appropriate choices of the functions $f$ and $g$ includes well known models, such as Dai's equation for the study of vibrations inside elastic rods or the Camassa--Holm equation modelling water wave propagation in shallow water. We establish a local-in-space blowup criterion (i.e., a criterion involving only the properties of the data $u_0$ in a neighbourhood of a single point) simplifying and extending earlier blowup criteria for this equation. Our arguments apply both to the finite and infinite energy case, yielding the finite time blowup of strong solutions with possibly different behavior as $x\to+\infty$ and $x\to-\infty$

The periodic b-equation and Euler equations on the circle

In this note we show that the periodic b-equation can only be realized as an Euler equation on the Lie group Diff(S^1) of all smooth and orientiation preserving diffeomorphisms on the cirlce if b=2, i.e. for the Camassa-Holm equation. In this case the inertia operator generating the metric on Diff(S^1) is given by A=1-d^2/dx^2. In contrast, the Degasperis-Procesi equation, for which b=3, is not an Euler equation on Diff(S^1) for any inertia operator. Our result generalizes a recent result of B. Kolev.Comment: 8 page

Variational derivation of two-component Camassa-Holm shallow water system

By a variational approach in the Lagrangian formalism, we derive the nonlinear integrable two-component Camassa-Holm system (1). We show that the two-component Camassa-Holm system (1) with the plus sign arises as an approximation to the Euler equations of hydrodynamics for propagation of irrotational shallow water waves over a flat bed. The Lagrangian used in the variational derivation is not a metric.Comment: to appear in Appl. Ana

Generalized Hunter-Saxton equation and the geometry of the group of circle diffeomorphisms

We study an equation lying `mid-way' between the periodic Hunter-Saxton and Camassa-Holm equations, and which describes evolution of rotators in liquid crystals with external magnetic field and self-interaction. We prove that it is an Euler equation on the diffeomorphism group of the circle corresponding to a natural right-invariant Sobolev metric. We show that the equation is bihamiltonian and admits both cusped, as well as smooth, traveling-wave solutions which are natural candidates for solitons. We also prove that it is locally well-posed and establish results on the lifespan of its solutions. Throughout the paper we argue that despite similarities to the KdV, CH and HS equations, the new equation manifests several distinctive features that set it apart from the other three.Comment: 30 pages, 2 figure