Direct and inverse scattering problems for a first-order system with energy-dependent potentials

Abstract

The direct and inverse scattering problems on the full line are analyzed for a first-order system of ordinary linear differential equations associated with the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation and related equations. The system contains a spectral parameter and two potentials, where the potentials are proportional to the spectral parameter and hence are called energy-dependent potentials. Using the two potentials as input, the direct problem is solved by determining the scattering coefficients and the bound-state information consisting of bound-state energies, their multiplicities, and the corresponding norming constants. Using two different methods, the corresponding inverse problem is solved by determining the two potentials when the scattering data set is used as input. The first method involves the transformation of the energy-dependent system into two distinct energy-independent systems. The second method involves the establishment of the so-called alternate Marchenko system of linear integral equations and the recovery of the energy-dependent potentials from the solution to the alternate Marchenko system.