Smoothing properties and existence of solutions for the generalized Benjamin-Ono equation (Q1178496)

The basic mathematical results are summarized in the authors' abstract: ``We study the Cauchy problem for the generalized Benjamin-Ono equation \[ \partial_ tu-D| D|^{2\mu}u=DV'(u), \tag{*} \] where \(D=d/dx\), \(\mu>0\), and \(V\in{\mathcal C}^ 1(\mathbb{R},\mathbb{R})\) with \(V(0)=V'(0)=0\). Using commutator identities and estimates, we prove that the equation \((*)\) exhibits smoothing properties similar to those of the generalized Korteweg-de Vries equation (GKdV), which is the special case \(\mu=1\) of \((*)\). If \(V\) satisfies suitable estimates at zero and at infinity, we prove that the Cauchy problem for the equation \((*)\) with initial data \(u(0)=u_ 0\) has a solution \(u\in L^ \infty(\mathbb{R},L^ 2)\cap L^ 2_{loc}(\mathbb{R},H^ \mu_{loc})\) if \(u_ 0\in L^ 2\), and has a solution \(u\in L^ \infty(\mathbb{R},H^ \mu)\cap L^ 2_{loc}(\mathbb{R},H^{2\mu}_{loc})\) if \(u_ 0\in H^ \mu\) (finite energy solution). In addition, we prove that the usual Benjamin-Ono equation \((\mu=1/2,\;V'(u)=u^ 2)\) has a solution \(u\in L^ \infty(\mathbb{R},H^ 1)\cap L^ 2_{loc}(\mathbb{R},H^{3/2}_{loc})\) for \(u_ 0\in H^ 1\). Those results are easily extended to related equations such as the intermediate long wave equation or the Smith equation.'' The paper is organized into six sections: Introduction, Commutator expansions and applications, Existence and smoothness of \(L^ 2\) solutions, Existence and smoothness of finite energy solutions, Existence and smoothness of \(H^ 1\) solutions for \(\mu=1/2\), Extension to other equations. The theorems in this paper are carefully and understandably stated and the proofs are carried out in detail. The introduction and comments are illuminating. It is a beautiful paper and a major contribution.