Nonlinear modulation of periodic waves in the small dispersion limit of the Benjamin-Ono equation

The Whitham modulation theory is used to construct large time asymptotic solutions of the Benjamin-Ono (BO) equation in the small dispersion limit. For a wide class of initial data, asymptotic solutions are represented by a single-phase periodic solution of the BO equation with slowly varying amplitude and wave number. The Whitham system of modulation equations for these wave parameters has a very simple structure, and it can be solved exactly under appropriate boundary conditions. It is found that the oscillating zone expands with time, and eventually evolves into a train of solitary waves. In the case of localized initial data, the number density function of solitary waves is derived in a closed form. The resulting expression coincides with the corresponding formula obtained from the asymptotic theory based on the conservation laws of the BO equation. For steplike initial data, the total number of created solitary waves increases without limit in proportion to time.