On varying coefficients of spatial inhomogeneous nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation

Abstract

A nonlinear evolution equation for wave packet surface gravity waves with variation in topography is revisited in this article. The equation is modeled by a spatial inhomogeneous nonlinear Schr\"odinger (NLS) equation with varying coefficients, derived by Djordjevi\'c and Redekopp (1978) and the nonlinear coefficient is later corrected by Dingemans and Otta (2001). We show analytically and qualitatively that the nonlinear coefficient and the corresponding averaging value, stated but not derived, by Benilov, Flanagan and Howlin (2005) and Benilov and Howlin (2006) are inaccurate. For a particular choice of topography and wave characteristics, the NLS equation alternates between focusing and defocusing case and hence, it does not admit the formation of a classical soliton, neither bright nor dark one.