The generalized wave equation revisited (Q4359983)

The classical homogeneous D'Alembert wave equation is always a hyperbolic partial differential equation and can be written in the form \(\partial^2u/\partial x\partial y= 0\): the solution is given in terms of two arbitrary functions. The D'Alembert wave equation is related to a light cone with fixed angle of special relativity. The generalized D'Alembert wave equation is a Tricomi equation of the second kind and in two cases, we show that it is possible to reduce it to the form \(\partial^2u/\partial \xi\partial\eta=0\). However, the generalized D'Alembert wave equation is related to a light cone with variable overture and when the radius \(R\to\infty\), we obtain the classical results.