Modulating pulse solutions for quasilinear wave equations

This paper presents an existence proof for symmetric modulating pulse solutions of a quasilinear wave equation. Modulating pulse solutions consist of a pulse-like envelope advancing in the laboratory frame and modulating an underlying wave train; they are also referred to as ‘moving breathers’ since they are time periodic in a moving frame of reference. The problem is formulated as an infinite-dimensional dynamical system with two stable, two unstable and infinitely many neutral directions. Using a partial normal form and a generalisation of local invariant-manifold theory to the quasilinear setting we prove the existence of modulating pulses on arbitrarily large, but finite domains in space and time.