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Zbl 0662.35065
Bluman, George; Kumei, Sukeyuki
On invariance properties of the wave equation.
(English)
[J] J. Math. Phys. 28, 307-318 (1987). ISSN 0022-2488; ISSN 1089-7658/e

A complete group classification is given of both the wave equation (I) $c\sp 2(x)u\sb{xx}-u\sb{tt}=0$ and its equivalent system (II) $v\sb t=u\sb x$, $c\sp 2(x)v\sb x=u\sb t$, when the wave speed c(x)$\ne const$. Equations (I) and (II) admit either a two-or four-parameter group. For the exceptional case, $c(x)=(Ax+B)\sp 2$, equation (I) admits an infinite group. Equations (I) and (II) do not always admit the same group for a given c(x): The group for (I) can have more parameters or fewer parameters than that for (II); moreover, the groups can be different with the same number of parameters. Separately for (I) and (II), all possible c(x) that admit a four-parameter group are found explicitly. The corresponding invariant solutions are considered. Some of these wave speeds have realistic physical properties: c(x) varies monotonically from one positive constant to another positive constant as x goes from - $\infty$ to $+\infty$.
MSC 2000:
*35L05 Wave equation
35B40 Asymptotic behavior of solutions of PDE
35A30 Geometric theory for PDE, transformations

Keywords: group classification; wave equation; parameter group; invariant solutions

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