On the inverse scattering method for integrable PDEs on a star graph (Q2351068)

The paper presents the adaptation of the inverse scattering method for analyzing integrable (in the sense that they have a Lax pair representation) nonlinear equations to the case of initial boundary value (IBV) problems on a star graph. As a model equation, the nonlinear Schrödinger equation is taken. The key ingredient is the mapping of the problem to a matrix IBV problem, to which the Fokas method (the unified transform method) is applied. Particularly, the so-called global relation, relating the spectral functions associated with initial and boundary values, is analyzed, and linearized boundary conditions are introduced, which are the natural generalization of the linearized boundary conditions in the scalar case. The formalism is checked in the case of two half-infinite edges, where it is shown how the problem with transparent boundary condition can be reduced to the (initial value) problem of the line.