The quench map in an integrable classical field theory: nonlinear Schrödinger equation (Q2834810)

The paper aims to develop a mathematically rigorous treatment of the quench problem in the framework of the integrable one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE), with both signs of the nonlinearity (self-focusing and defocusing). ``Quench'' essentially means that a relatively simple NLSE solution is taken, such as a fundamental soliton in the case of the self-focusing nonlinearity, and then the magnitude and, possibly, the sign of the nonlinearity coefficient is suddenly changed. The analysis is performed using particular examples which, in principle, admit an exact solution for the respective direct scattering problem, i.e., the Zakharov-Shabat equations with the given input field and suddenly replaced nonlinearity coefficient. Them a general mathematical framework for the consideration of the quench problem is developed, based on a ``quench map'', which is introduced for this purpose. This concept is related to well-known technical tools, such as the Darboux and Bäcklund transforms, the Gelfand-Levitan- Marchenko integral equations, which constitute the basis of the solution of the inverse scattering problem, and the so-called Rosales series. A concept of ``dual quench'' is introduced too, when, for a given set of the scattering data, the nonlinearity coefficient is suddenly changed, which implies a sudden change of the wave field in the physical space. Connections between results of the solution of the quench problem in the classical integrable NLSE and its integrable quantum counterpart (the Lieb-Liniger model) are discussed in detail, too.