9 April 2001

Physics Letters A 282 (2001) 1822

www.elsevier.nl/locate/pla

Soliton solutions for a generalized HirotaSatsuma coupled KdV

equation and a coupled MKdV equation
Engui Fan
Institute of Mathematics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China
Received 20 November 2000; received in revised form 22 February 2001; accepted 23 February 2001
Communicated by A.R. Bishop

Abstract
We make use of an extended tanh-function method and symbolic computation to obtain respectively four kinds of soliton
solutions for a new generalized HirotaSatsuma coupled KdV equation and a new coupled MKdV equation, which were
introduced recently by Wu et al. (Phys. Lett. A 255 (1999) 259). 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Coupled MKdV equation; Soliton solution; Riccati equation; Symbolic computation

1. Introduction
Recently, by introducing a 4 4 matrix spectral
problem with three potentials, Wu et al. derived a
new hierarchy of nonlinear evolution equations [1].
Two typical equations in the hierarchy are a new
generalized HirotaSatsuma coupled KdV equation
1
ut = uxxx 3uux + 3(vw)x ,
2
vt = vxxx + 3uvx ,
wt = wxxx + 3uwx ,

(1)

and a new coupled MKdV equation

1
3
ut = uxxx 3u2 ux + vxx + 3(uv)x 3ux ,
2
2
vt = vxxx 3vvx 3ux vx + 3u2 vx + 3vx .

H (u, ux , ut , uxx , . . .) = 0,
(2)

With w = v and w = v, Eq. (1) reduces respectively

to a new complex coupled KdV equation [1] and
E-mail address: faneg@fudan.edu.cn (E. Fan).

the HirotaSatsuma equation [2,3]. Eq. (2) becomes

a generalized KdV equation for u = 0 and the MKdV
equation for v = 0, respectively. The soliton solutions
for these two equations are still unknown. The aim
of this Letter is to construct four kinds of soliton
solutions for them by using an extended tanh-function
method and symbolic computation [4]. The key idea
of this method is to take full advantages of a Riccati
equation involving a parameter and use its solutions to
replace the tanh-function in the tanh-function method
[57], which simply proceeds as follows. For a given
partial differential equation, say, in two independent
variables,
(3)

we first consider its travelling solutions u(x, t) =

u( ) = x + t, then Eq. (3) becomes an ordinary
differential equation. The next crucial step is that the
solution we are looking for is expressed in the form
u( ) =

m


i=0

0375-9601/01/$ see front matter 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 7 5 - 9 6 0 1 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 1 6 1 - X

ai i ,

(4)

E. Fan / Physics Letters A 282 (2001) 1822

with

19

and


 = k 1 2 ,


(5)

where k is a parameter, = ( ),  = d/d . The

parameter m can be found by balancing the highestorder linear term with the nonlinear terms. Substituting (4) and (5) into the relevant ordinary differential
equation will yield a set of algebraic equations with
respect to ai , k, because the coefficients of i have
to vanish. From these relations ai , k, can be determined. The Riccati equation (5) has the general solutions
= tanh(k ),

= coth(k ).

(6)

The algorithm presented here is also a computerizable

method, in which generating an algebraic system from
Eq. (3) and solving it are two key procedures and laborious to do by hand. But they can be implemented
on a computer with the help of Mathematica. The outputs of solving the algebraic system from a computer
comprise a list of the form {, k, a0, . . .}. In general, if
or any of the parameters is left unspecified, then it
is to be regard as arbitrary for the solution of Eq. (3).
For simplification, singular coth-type soliton solutions
are omitted in this Letter, since they always appear in
pairs with tanh-type solutions according to (6).

u = a0 + a1 + a2 2 ,
v = b0 + b1 ,
w = c0 + c1 .

(9)

Substituting (8) into Eq. (7) and using Mathematica

yields a set of algebraic system for ai , bi , ci (i = 0,
1, 2), k and , namely
ka1 + k 3 a1 + 3ka0 a1 3kb1c0 3kb0 c1 = 0,
3ka12 + 2ka2 + 8k 3 a2 + 6ka0 a2 6kb2 c0
6kb1c1 6kb0 c2 = 0,
ka1 4k 3 a1 3ka0 a1 + 9ka1 a2 + 3kb1 c0
+ 3kb0c1 9kb2 c1 9kb1 c2 = 0,
3ka12 2ka2 20k 3a2 6ka0a2 + 6ka22
+ 6kb2c0 + 6kb1 c1 + 6kb0 c2 12kb2c2 = 0,
3k 3 a1 9ka1a2 + 9kb2c1 + 9kb1c2 = 0,
12k 3a2 6ka22 + 12kb2c2 = 0,
kb1 2k 3 b1 3ka0b1 = 0,
3ka1b1 + 2kb2 16k 3 b2 6ka0 b2 = 0,
kb1 + 8k 3 1 + 3ka0b1 3ka2 b1 6ka1 b2 = 0,
3ka1b1 2kb2 + 40k 3b2 + 6ka0 b2 6ka2 b2 = 0,
6kb1 + 3ka2b1 + 6ka1b2 = 0,
24k 3b2 + 6ka2 b2 = 0,

2. Soliton solutions for the generalized

HirotaSatsuma coupled KdV equation

kc1 2k 3 c1 3ka0 c1 = 0,

To look for the travelling wave solution of Eq. (1),

we make the transformation u(x, t) = u( ), v(x, t) =
v( ), w(x, t) = w( ), = x + t and change Eq. (1)
into the form
1
u = u 3uu + 3(vw) ,
2
v  = v  + 3uv  ,
w = w + 3uw .

3ka1c1 + 2kc2 16k 3 c2 6ka0 c2 = 0,

kc1 + 8k 3 c1 + 3ka0 c1 3ka2 c1 6ka1 c2 = 0,
3ka1c1 2kc2 + 40k 3 c2 + 6ka0 c2 6ka2c2
6k 3c1 + 3ka2 c1 + 6ka1c2 = 0,
for which, with the aid of Mathematica, we find

(7)

Balancing the highest-order linear terms and nonlinear

terms in Eq. (7) gives the following two anstze:
u = a0 + a1 + a2 2 ,
v = b0 + b1 + b2 2 ,
w = c0 + c1 + c2 2 ,

24k 3c2 + 6ka2 c2 = 0,

(8)


1
8k 2 ,
a2 = 4k 2 ,
3
4(3k 4c0 2k 2 c2 + 4k 4 c2 )
,
b0 =
3c22
a1 = b1 = c1 = 0,

a0 =

b2 =

4k 4
,
c2
(10)

where c0 , k, and c2 = 0 are arbitrary constants. Then

from (6), (8) and (10) we obtain the soliton solutions

20

E. Fan / Physics Letters A 282 (2001) 1822

of Eq. (1) of bell-type for all u, v and w:




1
u = 8k 2 + 4k 2 tanh2 k(x + t) ,
3
4(3k 4c0 2k 2 c2 + 4k 4 c2 )
v=
3c22

3. Soliton solutions for the coupled MKdV

equation



4k 2
tanh2 k(x + t) ,
c2


w = c0 + c2 tanh2 k(x + t) .

1
3
u = u 3u2 u + v  + 3(uv) 3u ,
2
2
v  = v  3vv  3u v  + 3u2 v  + 3v  .

Let u(x, t) = u( ), v(x, t) = v( ), = x + t, then

Eq. (2) becomes

Similarly, substituting ansatz (9) into (7) yields

ka1 + k 3 a1 + 3ka0a1 3kb1 c0 3kb0c1 = 0,

Balancing the highest-order linear terms and nonlinear

terms leads to the following two anstze:

3ka12 + 2ka2 + 8k 3 a2 + 6ka0a2 6kb1c1 = 0,

u = a0 + a1 ,

ka1 4k a1 3ka0a1 + 9ka1a2 + 3kb1 c0

and

+ 3kb0c1 = 0,
3ka12 2ka2 20k 3 a2 6ka0 a2 + 6ka22
+ 6kb1c1 = 0,

u = a0 + a1 ,

v = b0 + b1 ,

(12)

v = b0 + b1 + b2 2 .

(13)

Substituting (12) into (11) gives

3k a1 9ka1 a2 = 0,
2

12k

a2 6ka22

= 0,

kb1 2k b1 3ka0 b1 = 0,
3

kb1 + 8k 3 b1 + 3ka0b1 3ka2b1 = 0,

3ka1 b1 = 0,

3ka1c1 = 0,

6k 3 b1 + 3ka2 b1 = 0,
kc1 2k 3 c1 3ka0c1 = 0,

ka1 + k 3 a1 + 3ka1 + 3ka02a1 3ka1b0

3ka0b1 = 0,
6ka0a12 + 3k 2 b1 6ka1 b1 = 0,
ka1 4k 3 a1 3ka1 3ka02 a1 + 3ka13
+ 3ka1b0 + 3ka0b1 = 0,

kc1 + 8k 3 c1 + 3ka0c1 3ka2c1 = 0,

6ka0a12 3k 2 b1 + 6ka1 b1 = 0,

6k 3 c1 + 3ka2 c1 = 0,

3k 3 a1 3ka13 = 0,

which has solutions


1
a1 = 0,
a0 = 2k 2 ,
a2 = 2k 2 ,
3
4k 2c0 ( + k 2 )
4k 2 ( + k 2 )
,
b
=
,
b0 =
1
3c1
3c12

3ka1 + kb1 2k 3 b1 3ka02 b1 + 3k 2 a1 b1

where c0 , , k and c1 = 0 are arbitrary constants.

In this way, we also find another soliton solution of
Eq. (1) of bell-type for u but kink-type for v, w:



1
u = 2k 2 + 2k 2 tanh2 k(x + t) ,
3
4k 2 c0 ( + k 2 )
v=
3c12


4k 2 ( + k 2 )
tanh k(x + t) ,
3c1


w = c0 + c1 tanh k(x + t) .
+

(11)

+ 3kb0b1 = 0,
6ka0a1 b1 + 3kb12 = 0,

6ka0 a1 b1 3kb12 = 0,

3ka1 kb1 + 8k 3 b1 + 3k02 b1 6k 2 a1 b1

3ka12b1 3kb0 b1 = 0,
6k 3b1 + 3k 2 a1 b1 + 3ka12b1 = 0,
for which, with the aid of Mathematica, we find


k
b1

a1 = k,
1+
,
a0 = ,
b0 =
2k
2
b1


1
6k 3b12
2
=
(14)
4k 6 +
+ 2 ,
4
b1
k
where b0 = 0, k = 0 are arbitrary constants. By using
(12) and (14), we get kink-type soliton solutions of

E. Fan / Physics Letters A 282 (2001) 1822

Eq. (2) for both u and v:

type for u but bell-type for v:

b1
+ k tanh(k ),
2k


k

1+
+ b1 tanh(k ),
v=
2
b1

u = k tanh(k ),

1
v = 4k 2 + 2k 2 tanh2 (k ),
2
with

1
= x + 2k 2 3 t.
2

u=

with
=x+



6k 3b12
1
+ 2 t.
4k 2 6 +
4
b1
k

For ansatz (13), with help of Mathematica, we have

ka1 + k 3 a1 + 3ka1 + 3ka02a1 3ka1 b0
3ka0b1 3k 2 b2 = 0,
6ka0 a12 + 3k 2 b1 6ka1b1 6ka0b2 = 0,
ka1 4k 3 a1 3ka1 3ka02a1 + 3ka13 + 3ka1b0
+ 3ka0b1 + 12k 2 b2 9ka1 b2 = 0,
6ka0a12 3k 2 b1 + 6ka1b1 + 6ka0 b2 = 0,
3k 3 a1 3ka13 9k 2 b2 + 9ka1 b2 = 0,
3ka1 + kb1 2k 3 b1 3ka02b1 + 3k 2 a1 b1
+ 3kb0b1 = 0,
6ka0a1 b1 + 3kb12 + 2kb2 16k 3 b2 6ka02b2
+ 6k 2a1 b2 + 6kb0b2 = 0,

21

Remark. We have found four kinds of soliton solutions for the new generalized HirotaSatsuma coupled
KdV equation (1) and the new coupled KdV equation (2) by using a Riccati equation and symbolic computation. Two kinds of them are singular soliton solutions. Such solutions develop a singularity at a finite
point, i.e., for any fixed t = t0 , there exist x0 at which
these solutions blow up. There is much current interest
in the formation of so-called hot spots or blow up
of solutions [810]. It appears that these singular solutions will model this physical phenomena. The method
used in this Letter has some merits in contrast with the
tanh-function method. It not only uses a more simple
algorithm to produce an algebraic system but also can
pick up singular soliton solutions with no extra effort.
In addition, this method is also computerizable, which
allow us to perform complicated and tedious algebraic
calculation on a computer.

3ka1 kb1 + 8k 3 b1 + 3ka02b1 6k 2 a1 b1 3ka12b1

3kb0b1 12ka0a1 b2 + 9kb1b2 = 0,

Acknowledgements

6ka0 a1 b1 3kb12 2kb2 + 40k 3b2 + 6ka02 b2

12k 2a1 b2 6ka12 b2 6kb0b2 + 6kb22 = 0,
6k 3 b1 + 3k 2 a1 b1 + 3ka12b1 + 12ka0a1 b2
9kb1b2 = 0,
24k 3b2 + 6k 2 a1 b2 + 6ka 2b2 6kb22 = 0.
Solving these equations by means of Mathematica
gives
a1 = k,
a0 = 0,


1
b0 = 4k 2 + ,
b1 = 0,
b2 = 2k 2 ,
2

1
= 2k 2 3 ,
2
where k is an arbitrary constant. Then we find that
another kind of soliton solution for Eq. (2) is of kink-

I am grateful to Professor Gu Chaohao, Professor

Hu Hesheng and Professor Zhou Zixiang for their
enthusiastic guidance and help. I also would like to
express my sincere thanks to the referees for their
helpful suggestions. This work has been supported by
Chinese Basic Research Plan Mathematics Mechanization and a Platform for Automated Reasoning,
the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China and the
Shanghai Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China.

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(1999) 259.
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[3] J. Satsuma, R. Hirota, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 51 (1982) 332.

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E. Fan / Physics Letters A 282 (2001) 1822

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