Long-time asymptotics of solutions to the Cauchy problem for the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation with finite-density initial data. II: Dark solitons on continua (Q1868352)

The author studies the long-time asymptotics of solutions of initial-value problems for the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation \(i\partial_t u+\partial_x^2 u -2(| u| ^2-1)u = 0\) with nonvanishing (finite-density) initial data. The analysis of the solitonless component of the solution is presented in another paper by the author [Long-time asymptotics of solutions to the Cauchy problem for the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger with finite-density initial data. I. Solitonless sector, 2001, arXiv:nlin.SI/0110024]. The present paper addresses the problem of incorporation of the \(N\)-dark soliton component to the solitonless background via the application of the matrix Riemann-Hilbert approach. Leading-order asymptotic formulas for solutions of the associated Riemann-Hilbert problems and, finally, for solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation are obtained.