Renormalization group symmetry and initial value problem for shallow water equations (Q1433570)

The author introduces a new scenario in the renormalization group symmetry in order to solve initial value problem for a system of partial differential equations. The crucial step of the approach is to find a Lie symmetry admitted by the system, which satisfies a degeneracy condition for functional self-similarity at the initial time. As an example, the author considers an initial value problem for the shallow water equations in the cylindrical geometry, and obtains a solution including an arbitrary function. This exact solution describes a contracting and expanding wave over a flat bottom.