Rational solutions of multi‐component nonlinear Schrödinger equation and complex modified KdV equation

Abstract

In this paper, the crucial condition to achieve rational solutions of the multi‐component nonlinear Schrödinger equation is proposed by introducing two nilpotent Lax matrices. Taking the series multisections of the vector eigenfunction as a set of fundamental eigenfunctions, an explicit formula of the nth‐order rational solution is obtained by the degenerate Darboux transformation, which is used to generate some new patterns of rogue waves. A conjecture about the degree of the nth‐order rogue waves is summarized. This conjecture also holds for rogue waves of the multi‐component complex modified Korteweg–de Vries equation. Finally, the semi‐rational solutions of the Manakov system are discussed.