Modulational instability of periodic standing waves in the derivative NLS equation (Q2043216)

The equation \(iu_t + u_{xx} + i (|u|^2u)_x = 0\), involving the complex-valued unknown function \(u\), arises in plasma physics models, and known as the the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation (DNLS). A special family of solutions is given by the periodic standing waves, which the authors fully classify in terms of eight eigenvalues of a Kaup-Newell spectral problem. The authors discuss some numerical aspects, and as a matter of application, characterize the modulational instability of the periodic standing waves.