On the linearized log-KdV equation

Abstract

The logarithmic KdV (log-KdV) equation admits global solutions in an energy space and exhibits Gaussian solitary waves. Orbital stability of Gaussian solitary waves is known to be an open problem. We address properties of solutions to the linearized log-KdV equation at the Gaussian solitary waves. By using the decomposition of solutions in the energy space in terms of Hermite functions, we show that the time evolution is related to a Jacobi difference operator with a limit circle at infinity. This exact reduction allows us to characterize both spectral and linear orbital stability of solitary waves. We also introduce a convolution representation of solutions to the log-KdV equation with the Gaussian weight and show that the time evolution in such a weighted space is dissipative with the exponential rate of decay.