Lie symmetries and similarity solutions for the generalized Zakharov equations

Abstract

The theory of Lie point symmetries is applied to study the generalized Zakharov system with two unknown parameters. The system reduces into a three-dimensional real value functions system, where we find that admits five Lie point symmetries. From the resulting point, we focus on these which provide travel-wave similarity transformation. The reduced system can be integrated while we remain with a system of two second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The parameters of the latter system are classified in order the equations to admit Lie point symmetries. Exact travel-wave solutions are found, while the generalized Zakharov system can be described by the one-dimensional Ermakov-Pinney equation.