A new matrix modified Korteweg-de Vries equation: Riemann-Hilbert approach and exact solutions

Abstract: A new matrix modified Korteweg-de Vries (mmKdV) equation with a $p\times q$ complex-valued potential matrix function is first studied via Riemann-Hilbert approach, which can be reduced to the well-known coupled modified Korteweg-de Vries equations by selecting special potential matrix. Starting from the special analysis for the Lax pair of this equation, we successfully establish a Riemann-Hilbert problem of the equation. By introducing the special conditions of irregularity and reflectionless case, some interesting exact solutions, including the $N$-soliton solution formula, of the mmKdV equation are derived through solving the corresponding Riemann-Hilbert problem. Moreover, due to the special symmetry of special potential matrices and the $N$-soliton solution formula, we make further efforts to classify the original exact solutions to obtain some other interesting solutions which are all displayed graphically. It is interesting that the local structures and dynamic behaviors of soliton solutions, breather-type solutions and bell-type soliton solutions are all analyzed via taking different types of potential matrices.