We study separable and self-similar solutions to the Hunter-Saxton equation, a nonlinear wave equation which has been used to describe an instability in the director field of a nematic liquid crystal （among other app...We study separable and self-similar solutions to the Hunter-Saxton equation, a nonlinear wave equation which has been used to describe an instability in the director field of a nematic liquid crystal （among other applications）. Essentially, we study solutions which arise from a nonlinear inhomogeneous ordinary differential equation which is obtained by an exact similarity transform for the ttunter-Saxton equation. For each type of solution, we are able to obtain some simple exact solutions in closed-form, and more complicated solutions through an analytical approach. We find that there is a whole family of self-similar solutions, each of which depends on an arbitrary parameter. This parameteressentially controls the manner of self-similarity and can be chosen so that the self-similar solutions agree with given initial data. The simpler solutions found constitute exact soIutions to a nonlinear partial differential equation, and hence are also useful in a mathematical sense. Analytical solutions demonstrate the variety of behaviors possible within the wider family of similarity solutions. Both types of solutions cast light on self-similar phenomenon arising in the Hunter-Saxton equation.展开更多
文摘We study separable and self-similar solutions to the Hunter-Saxton equation, a nonlinear wave equation which has been used to describe an instability in the director field of a nematic liquid crystal （among other applications）. Essentially, we study solutions which arise from a nonlinear inhomogeneous ordinary differential equation which is obtained by an exact similarity transform for the ttunter-Saxton equation. For each type of solution, we are able to obtain some simple exact solutions in closed-form, and more complicated solutions through an analytical approach. We find that there is a whole family of self-similar solutions, each of which depends on an arbitrary parameter. This parameteressentially controls the manner of self-similarity and can be chosen so that the self-similar solutions agree with given initial data. The simpler solutions found constitute exact soIutions to a nonlinear partial differential equation, and hence are also useful in a mathematical sense. Analytical solutions demonstrate the variety of behaviors possible within the wider family of similarity solutions. Both types of solutions cast light on self-similar phenomenon arising in the Hunter-Saxton equation.
