The eigenvalue problem for solitary waves of a boussinesq equation, via a generalization of the rouché theorem

Abstract

We consider the study of an eigenvalue problem obtained by linearizing about solitary wave solutions of a Boussinesq equation. Instead of using the technique of Evans functions as done by Pego and Weinstein in [R. Pego and M. Weinstein, Convective Linear Stability of Solitary Waves for Boussinesq equation. AMS, 99, 311–375] for this particular problem, we perform Fourier analysis to characterize solutions of the eigenvalue problem in terms of a multiplier operator and use the strong relationship between the eigenvalue problem for the linearized Boussinesq equation and the eigenvalue problem associated with the linearization about solitary wave solutions of a special form of the KdV equation. By using a generalization of the Rouché Theorem and the asymptotic behavior of the Fourier symbol corresponding to the eigenvalues problem for the Boussinesq equation and the Fourier symbol corresponding to the eigenvalues problem for the KdV equation, we show nonexistence of eigenvalues with respect to weighted space in a planar region containing the right-half plane.