The multi-component modified nonlinear Schrödinger system with nonzero boundary conditions

Abstract

In a previous paper (Matsuno 2011 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 44 495202), we have presented a determinantal expression of the bright N-soliton solution for a multi-component modified nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) system with zero boundary conditions. The present paper provides the dark N-soliton solution for the same system of equations with plane-wave boundary conditions, as well as the bright-dark N-soliton solution with mixed zero and plane-wave boundary conditions. The proof of the N-soliton solutions is performed by means of an elementary theory of determinants in which Jacobi’s identity plays the central role. The N-soliton formulas obtained here include as special cases the existing soliton solutions of the NLS and derivative NLS equations and their integrable multi-component analogs. The new features of soliton solutions are discussed. In particular, it is shown that the N constraints must be imposed on the amplitude parameters of solitons in constructing the dark N-soliton solution with plane-wave boundary conditions. This makes it difficult to analyze the solutions as the number of components increases. For mixed type boundary conditions, the structure of soliton solutions is found to be more explicit than that of dark soliton solutions since no constraints are imposed on the soliton parameters. Last, we comment on an integrable multi-component system associated with the first negative flow of the multi-component derivative NLS hierarchy.