dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaApplication of Uniform Asymptotics to the Second Painlev{\'e} Transcendent
| Authors | A. P. Bassom, P. A. Clarkson, C. K. Law, J. B. McLeod |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | solv-int/9609005 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/solv-int/9609005 |
Abstract
In this work we propose a new method for investigating connection problems for the class of nonlinear second-order differential equations known as the Painlev{\'e} equations. Such problems can be characterized by the question as to how the asymptotic behaviours of solutions are related as the independent variable is allowed to pass towards infinity along different directions in the complex plane. Connection problems have been previously tackled by a variety of methods. Frequently these are based on the ideas of isomonodromic deformation and the matching of WKB solutions. However, the implementation of these methods often tends to be heuristic in nature and so the task of rigorising the process is complicated. The method we propose here develops uniform approximations to solutions. This removes the need to match solutions, is rigorous, and can lead to the solution of connection problems with minimal computational effort. Our method is reliant on finding uniform approximations of differential equations of the generic form ${d^2\phi}/{d\eta^2} = - \xi^2F(\eta,\xi)\phi$ as the complex-valued parameter $\xi \to \infty.$ The details of the treatment rely heavily on the locations of the zeros of the function $F$ in this limit. If they are isolated then a uniform approximation to solutions can be derived in terms of Airy functions of suitable argument. On the other hand, if two of the zeros of $F$ coalesce as $|\xi| \to \infty$ then an approximation can be derived in terms of parabolic cylinder functions. In this paper we discuss both cases, but illustrate our technique in action by applying the parabolic cylinder case to the ``classical'' connection problem associated with the second Painlev{\'e} transcendent. Future papers will show how the technique can be applied with very little change to the other Painlev{\'e} equations, and to the wider problem of the asymptotic behaviour of the general solution to any of these equations.
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"abstract": "In this work we propose a new method for investigating connection problems\nfor the class of nonlinear second-order differential equations known as the\nPainlev{\\\u0027e} equations. Such problems can be characterized by the question as\nto how the asymptotic behaviours of solutions are related as the independent\nvariable is allowed to pass towards infinity along different directions in the\ncomplex plane. Connection problems have been previously tackled by a variety of\nmethods. Frequently these are based on the ideas of isomonodromic deformation\nand the matching of WKB solutions. However, the implementation of these methods\noften tends to be heuristic in nature and so the task of rigorising the process\nis complicated. The method we propose here develops uniform approximations to\nsolutions. This removes the need to match solutions, is rigorous, and can lead\nto the solution of connection problems with minimal computational effort. Our\nmethod is reliant on finding uniform approximations of differential equations\nof the generic form ${d^2\\phi}/{d\\eta^2} = - \\xi^2F(\\eta,\\xi)\\phi$ as the\ncomplex-valued parameter $\\xi \\to \\infty.$ The details of the treatment rely\nheavily on the locations of the zeros of the function $F$ in this limit. If\nthey are isolated then a uniform approximation to solutions can be derived in\nterms of Airy functions of suitable argument. On the other hand, if two of the\nzeros of $F$ coalesce as $|\\xi| \\to \\infty$ then an approximation can be\nderived in terms of parabolic cylinder functions. In this paper we discuss both\ncases, but illustrate our technique in action by applying the parabolic\ncylinder case to the ``classical\u0027\u0027 connection problem associated with the\nsecond Painlev{\\\u0027e} transcendent. Future papers will show how the technique can\nbe applied with very little change to the other Painlev{\\\u0027e} equations, and to\nthe wider problem of the asymptotic behaviour of the general solution to any of\nthese equations.",
"arxiv_id": "solv-int/9609005",
"authors": [
"A. P. Bassom",
"P. A. Clarkson",
"C. K. Law",
"J. B. McLeod"
],
"categories": [
"solv-int",
"nlin.SI"
],
"title": "Application of Uniform Asymptotics to the Second Painlev{\\\u0027e} Transcendent",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/solv-int/9609005"
},
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