Lie symmetry analysis, conservation laws

and dynamical behavior of nonlinear

Schrödinger-Boussinesq equation
Progress Report (Jan to June 2025)

by

Sourav Das
Reg. No. 00319/B/2024
Roll No. BS24D002

Under the guidance of

Dr. Debjit Dutta (Supervisor)

Department of Basic & Applied Science

National Institute of Technology Arunachal Pradesh
Jote - 791113, Arunachal Pradesh, India
July, 2025
Contents
1 Abstract 2

2 Introduction 2

3 Objective 3

4 Methodology 4

1
1 Abstract
The Viking mission identified both cold and hot electron populations in the auroral zone,
enabling the propagation of electron acoustic waves (EAWs), whose nonlinear dissipa-
tive interactions are believed to significantly contribute to broadband electrostatic noise
(BEN). In this study, we investigate the dissipative dynamics of EAWs in collisionless,
unmagnetized plasmas using an effective viscosity model. The wave evolution is gov-
erned by a Higher-Order Boussinesq–Burgers (HOBB) equation that captures enhanced
nonlinear and dispersive effects. Analytical and numerical analyses reveal that when dis-
sipation dominates over dispersion, solitonic structures transition into shock waves. In
the weakly dissipative regime, multi-soliton solutions are obtained using the Hirota bilin-
ear method. A detailed phase space analysis, including Poincaré sections and near-zero
Lyapunov exponents, confirms the emergence of quasiperiodic behaviour. Stability anal-
ysis based on energy criteria shows that the waveforms remain stable when dissipation
counteracts dispersive and nonlinear steepening effects. The bipolar electric potential
structures predicted by the HOBB model are compared with Viking mission data, show-
ing good agreement with measured BEN waveforms and confirming the model’s relevance
in auroral plasmas.
In parallel, we investigate the nonlinear Schrödinger–Boussinesq (NLSB) rogue wave
equation, which models the nonlinear interaction between coupled Langmuir and dust-
acoustic waves in plasma media. A comprehensive Lie symmetry analysis is carried out to
identify the symmetry vector fields and construct an optimal system of subalgebras. These
symmetries enable symmetry reductions, leading to approximate analytical solutions of
the coupled system. Additionally, we derive a complete set of conservation laws using
Ibragimov’s new conservation theorem. A dynamical systems approach is applied to
analyze the qualitative behaviour and stability of the reduced equations. Together, these
findings advance the understanding of nonlinear plasma wave interactions, offering unified
insights into both electrostatic and electromagnetic wave processes across laboratory and
space plasma environments.

2 Introduction
The study of nonlinear wave dynamics in plasma has attracted growing attention due
to their fundamental significance in both laboratory and space environments. Among
the various wave modes, the electron acoustic wave (EAW) has emerged as a topic of
considerable interest in recent years [1–15], largely because of its observational relevance
in auroral density cavities [16] and controlled laboratory experiments [17]. EAWs are high-
frequency electrostatic plasma waves that arise due to the interaction between two distinct
electron populations (hot and cold), with the ion background serving as a stationary
neutralizer. These waves are central to several nonlinear plasma phenomena, including
broadband electrostatic noise (BEN), solitons, shock waves, and breathers [10, 11].
To understand the nonlinear and dissipative evolution of EAWs, the higher-order
Boussinesq–Burgers (HOBB) equation provides a robust modeling framework. This equa-
tion incorporates nonlinearity, dispersion, and dissipation, enabling the study of transi-
tions from solitons to shocks, as well as quasiperiodic breather-type structures relevant
to BEN. The HOBB equation also permits phase space analysis, including Poincaré maps
and Lyapunov exponent evaluation, offering insight into the stability and dynamical com-
plexity of EAWs in real plasma conditions, such as those observed by the Viking satellite

2
mission.
In parallel with EAW studies, nonlinear Schrödinger–Boussinesq (NLSB) equations
have been extensively investigated for modeling coupled short and long wave interactions
in multi-component plasmas, such as those involving Langmuir and dust-acoustic waves.
Of particular interest is the higher-order NLSB rogue wave equation, which governs the
interaction between a complex short-wave envelope ϕ(x, t) and a real long-wave back-
ground u(x, t). This system supports rich nonlinear structures, including rogue waves,
solitons, and breathers, and has been approached through a variety of methods including
exact solutions, first integrals, bilinear KP reduction, and numerical simulations [18–20].
The current research focuses on the nonlinear evolution and interaction of plasma
waves described by the HOBB and NLSB systems. In the first part, the HOBB model
is employed to investigate EAW structures under the combined influence of nonlinearity,
dispersion, and dissipation, with a particular emphasis on soliton–shock transitions and
phase-space dynamics. In the second part, we explore approximate analytical results for
the higher-order NLSB rogue wave equations using perturbation methods and symmetry
techniques, building upon existing exact and numerical results. This dual focus aims to
provide a comprehensive understanding of nonlinear plasma wave phenomena from both
the electrostatic and electromagnetic perspectives, contributing to the broader goal of
interpreting experimental and satellite observations in space and laboratory plasmas.

3 Objective
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the nonlinear evolution and dissi-
pative dynamics of plasma waves—specifically, electron acoustic waves (EAWs) and rogue
wave structures—in collisionless, unmagnetized, multi-component plasma environments
relevant to space and laboratory conditions.
This study focuses on two main directions:

1. To model and analyze the nonlinear dissipative dynamics of electron acoustic waves
using the Higher-Order Boussinesq–Burgers (HOBB) equation, which incorporates
enhanced nonlinear, dispersive, and dissipative effects. The aim is to explore
how dissipation influences the transition from solitons to shocks, the formation
of breather structures, and the emergence of quasiperiodic behaviour, with direct
application to broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) observed in auroral regions.

2. To study the nonlinear interaction between coupled Langmuir and dust-acoustic

waves via the higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger–Boussinesq (NLSB) rogue wave
equation. The goal is to derive approximate analytical solutions through Lie sym-
metry reductions, identify conservation laws using Ibragimov’s theorem, and in-
vestigate the qualitative dynamics and stability properties of the reduced system
through dynamical systems analysis.

By addressing these objectives, the research aims to provide a unified understanding of

nonlinear wave propagation, structure formation, and stability in plasma environments,
bridging electrostatic and electromagnetic wave behavior observed in both experimental
and natural settings.

3
4 Methodology
Methodology
In this study, we investigate the nonlinear dynamics of Electron Acoustic Waves (EAWs)
in a homogeneous, unmagnetized, collisionless plasma consisting of stationary ions and
two populations of electrons—hot and cold. The following methodological steps were
adopted to derive the evolution equation governing EAW propagation:

1. Physical Model and Assumptions:

• The plasma is assumed to be quasineutral at equilibrium, satisfying n0 =
ncd0 + nht0 , where n0 , ncd0 , and nht0 are the equilibrium ion, cold electron, and
hot electron densities, respectively.
• The cold electron temperature Tcd is much smaller than the hot electron tem-
perature Tht , i.e., Tcd /Tht ≈ 0.
• EAWs are high-frequency modes with phase velocity vcd ≪ vph ≪ vht , and the
wave frequency is on the order of the cold electron plasma frequency ωpcd .
2. Governing Equations:
• Cold electron dynamics are described by the continuity and momentum equa-
tions, incorporating the effects of the electric field and electron viscosity.
• Hot electrons are modeled using a Boltzmann-like pressure balance equation.
• Poisson’s equation is used to couple electron densities with the electric field.
3. Non-Dimensionalization:
• Physical quantities are scaled using the hot electron Debye length λDht and
cold electron plasma frequency ωpcd .
• Dimensionless variables are introduced to simplify the mathematical structure
of the system.
4. Derivation of Reduced Model:
• The electric field is eliminated from the governing system.
• Higher-order nonlinear terms of the form npcd v q with p + q ≥ 3 are neglected.
• A second-order nonlinear PDE for the cold electron velocity v(x, t) is derived.
5. Mach Number Scaling and Model Reduction:
• Assuming an acoustic-like disturbance, the scaling ∂t ∼ M ∂x is used, where
M is the Mach number.
• This leads to ncd = v
M
, which is substituted back into the equation to obtain
a closed form.
6. Final Formulation:
• The resulting equation is a Higher Order Boussinesq-Burgers (HOBB)-like
equation containing:

4
 – Dispersion: through higher-order spatial derivatives,
– Nonlinearity: through convective and quadratic terms,
– Dissipation: through viscosity-dependent terms.

This reduced nonlinear evolution equation provides a mathematical framework to

study the propagation, stability, and nonlinear structures (e.g., solitons and shocks) as-
sociated with electron acoustic waves in plasmas with two-temperature electron popula-
tions.

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