Change of type and loss of evolution of the White-Metzner model (Q1117772)

In this paper a mathematical study of the White-Metzner model is presented. This model gives rise to systems of first order nonlinear (not quasilinear) partial differential equations. The unsteady case is studied first to determine if the Cauchy problem is well posed, stable to short waves. Then we study two-dimensional steady flow by classifying the streamfunction equation for type. The roots of a polynomial have to be analyzed. We show how to use the roots to factorize an operator, we compute the roots and carry out the factorization globally, using a symbol manipulator, and locally, using perturbation analysis. The additional nonlinearities are found to add more hyperbolicity.