A direct method for solving the generalized sine-Gordon equation II

Abstract: The generalized sine-Gordon (sG) equation $u_{tx}=(1+\nu\partial_x^2)\sin\,u$ was derived as an integrable generalization of the sG equation. In a previous paper (Matsuno Y 2010 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. {\bf 43} 105204) which is referred to as I, we developed a systematic method for solving the generalized sG equation with $\nu=-1$. Here, we address the equation with $\nu=1$. By solving the equation analytically, we find that the structure of solutions differs substantially from that of the former equation. In particular, we show that the equation exhibits kink and breather solutions and does not admit multi-valued solutions like loop solitons as obtained in I. We also demonstrate that the equation reduces to the short pulse and sG equations in appropriate scaling limits. The limiting forms of the multisoliton solutions are also presented. Last, we provide a recipe for deriving an infinite number of conservation laws by using a novel B\"acklund transformation connecting solutions of the sG and generalized sG equations.