Get explicit formula for wave equation

Question

Consider the following linear wave equation. $$ u_t+cu_x-\gamma u_{xx}+\delta u_{xxx}=0 $$

If we know the following initial data, $$ u(x,0)= 3\cos^2(x)+\sin(x) $$ how to get an explicit solution?

I know that the general solution is: $$ v(x,t)=A\exp( ik[x-(c-\delta k^2)t] )\exp(-\gamma k^2t) $$

Even if I compare $u(x,0)=v(x,0)$, I can not solve it.

I think there is a $t$ missing in the second exponential of the general solution. It should be $exp(-\gamma k^2 t)$, right? — AugSB, Jul 10 '15 at 07:54
General solution should rather be superposition of such $v_{k}(x,t)$, where the domain of $k$ is dependent of boundary conditions. — mikis, Jul 10 '15 at 07:58
Ok, but I need information, where our function $u$ is defined. Is the domain $\mathbb{R}$ or for example $[0,1]$ ? — mikis, Jul 10 '15 at 08:11
Another error: $3\cos^2(x) +\sin(x) = \frac{1}{2} \big(3\cos(2x) + 2\sin(x) + 3\big)$, not what you wrote. — AugSB, Jul 10 '15 at 08:16
$c,\gamma,\delta$ are positive. Actually, I am not sure what the domain should be. — jakeoung, Jul 10 '15 at 08:17

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 10 '15 at 08:45

0

Assume (for simplicity) that our function is defined on $\mathbb{R}$ with no specific boundary conditions. So there is no restriction on $k$. Hence $k\in \mathbb{R}$ and the general solution is $u(x,t)=\int_{\mathbb{R}}A(k)v_{k}(x,t)dk$ (superposition of modes numbered by $k$). So, $u(x,0)$ is given by $\int_{\mathbb{R}}A(k)e^{ikx}dk$. We can use Fourier transform to calculate $A(k)$ and use it to find solution of our equation with respect to given initial conditions.

answered Jul 10 '15 at 08:45

mikis

3,070

If there is a boundary condition, is it more complex? – jakeoung Jul 10 '15 at 09:05
For example : if the domain is $[0,1]$ and we have co-called Dirichlet boundary conditions, i.e. $u(0,t)=u(1,t)=0$, then we have "quantization" of $k$, i.e $k$ can be only a natural number and there is no cosine term in $v_k$. It is something like guitar string. We can only have quantized wave modes, and in general solution we have sum instead of integral. – mikis Jul 10 '15 at 09:26

Get explicit formula for wave equation

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