Averaged description of the oscillations in a one-dimensional, randomly inhomogeneous medium (Q1083246)

The Cauchy problem for a wave equation with coefficients depending randomly on the spatial coordinate is considered. An equation describing the evolution of the expectation of the solution is derived assuming that the fluctuations of the coefficients and the correlation radius are small. The averaged equation, unlike the initial equation, is irreversible with respect to time, and has the form of a one-dimensional equation of motion of a viscoelastic material. The coefficient of effective viscosity obtained is found to be proportional to the intensity of fluctuations of the random characteristics of the inhomogeneous medium.