Normal form and exponential stability for some nonlinear string equations (Q5956223)

The authors study small amplitude solutions of the nonlinear equation: \[ u_{tt}-u_{xx}= \psi(u),\quad u(0,t)= 0=u(\pi,t), \] \[ \psi(u) \equiv \pm u^{2k-1}+ {\mathcal O}(u^{2k}), \quad k\geq 2. \] Suitable coordinates are introduced which allow to compute the average of the perturbation with respect to the linear flow. Thus a formula is obtained that allows one to study some features of the dynamics. Application to the particular case \(K=2\) is carried out more in details. A closed curve is constructed on each surface of constant small energy, say equal to \(\varepsilon\), having following property: solutions starting \(O(\varepsilon^2)\) close to it remain \(O(\varepsilon^2)\) close to it up to times of order \(\exp(c/ \varepsilon)\).