Searching for traveling wave solutions in inhomogeneous moving media by factorizing the wave equation

Abstract

Long-distance transmission of energy by waves is a key mechanism for many natural processes. It becomes possible when the inhomogeneous medium is arranged in such a manner that it enables a specific type of waves to propagate with virtually no reflection or scattering. If the corresponding linear wave equation admits factorization, at least one of the waves it describes propagates without reflection. The paper is devoted to searching for conditions under which both solutions of a one-dimensional factorized wave equation of the second order describe traveling waves, that is, waves propagating without reflection. Possible variants of wave structure are found and the results are compared with those obtained in previous studies.