Invariants-preserving integration of the modified Camassa-Holm equation (Q645281)

The authors consider the numerical integration and behavior of solutions of the modified Camassa-Holm (mCH) equation: \(m_t + um_x + 2u_xm = 0\), \(m = (1-\partial_x^2)^pu\), where \(p\) is a positive integer and the subscript \(t\) (or \(x\), respectively) denotes differentiation with respect to time \(t\) (or \(x\)). When \(p=1\), mCH reduces to the well-known Camassa-Holm (CH) equation \(u_t-u_{xxt} = uu_{xxx} + 2u_xu_{xx}-3uu_x\), which describes shallow water waves. The CH has a bi-Hamiltonian structure, is completely integrable, and has infinitely many conservation laws. In contrast to the CH, only two invariants have been found with the mCH, which read when \(p = 2\): \(d/dt\int u\,dx = 0\), \(d/dt\int \tilde H\,dx = 0\), \(\tilde H = (u^2 + 2u^2_x+ u^2_{xx})/2\). The following two objectives are sought. First, numerical integrators are constructed that preserve one or two of the invariants, in the hope of good numerical schemes well replicating qualitative behavior of the mCH. The second objective is to investigate the dynamics of the mCH, by using the constructed integrators. In particular, in the case \(p = 2\), it is numerically shown that certain solutions behave like solitons; this supports (at least weakly) the view that the mCH may be also a soliton equation.