The Cauchy problem for the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation (KPII) in Sobolev spaces \(H^s\), \(s>0\). (Q1848294)

The authors establish conditions which ensure that the Cauchy problem for the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation \[ (u_t+ u_{xxx}+ uu_x)_x+ u_{yy}= 0,\quad u(x,y,0)= u_0(x, y)\tag{1} \] is well posed for initial data \(u_0\) in the Sobolev spaces \(H^s\) for \(s> 0\). A review of three methods used in connection with this problem is given. The first makes use of the smoothing effects of an associated semigroup expressed in terms of mixed space-time \(L^p\)-\(L^q\) norms to establish conditions which ensure the problems are well posed. The remaining two methods follow the procedures introduced by \textit{J. Bourgain} [Geom. Funct. Anal. 3, No. 4, 315--341 (1993; Zbl 0787.35086)]. Using the calculus techniques introduced by \textit{C. E. Kenig, G. Ponce} and \textit{L. Vega} [Duke Math. J. 71, No. 1, 1--21 (1993; Zbl 0787.35090)] an adequate functional context is established to prove that the initial value problem (1) is well posed for \(u_0\in H^s\), \(s> 0\). The method developed in the paper is held to simplify greatly the method of Bourgain.