Self-similar solutions of the non-strictly hyperbolic Whitham equations for the KdV hierarchy (Q928518)

It is known that the solution of the initial value problem for the KdV equation \(u_t + 6uu_x + \epsilon^2u_{xxx} = 0\) has a weak limit as \(\epsilon \to 0\) which satisfies the Burgers equation \( u_t + 6uu_x = 0\) until its solution develops shocks. Immediately after shock, the weak limit is governed by the Whitham equations \(u_{it}+\lambda_i(u_1,u_2,u_3)u_{ix}=0\), \(i=1,2,3\). The authors study the Whitham equations for all the higher order KdV equations, supplemented with step-like initial function \(u_0(x)=1\) if \(x<0\) and \(u_0(x)=0\) if \(x\geq 0\). In this case, it is shown that solutions occupy some parts of the space-time domain, while other parts are governed by a Burgers-type equation. Next, the eigenspeeds of the Whitham equations are studied and self-similar solutions of the Whitham equations are constructed for the initial data given above. Those special solutions are used to construct the minimizer of a variational problem for the zero dispersion limit of the KdV hierarchy.