On the N-wave equations and soliton interactions in two and three dimensions

Several important examples of the N-wave equations are studied. These integrable equations can be linearized by formulation of the inverse scattering as a local Riemann-Hilbert problem (RHP). Several nontrivial reductions are presented. Such reductions can be applied to the generic N-wave equations but mainly the 3- and 4-wave interactions are presented as examples. Their one and two-soliton solutions are derived and their soliton interactions are analyzed. It is shown that additional reductions may lead to new types of soliton solutions. In particular the 4-wave equations with ₂ × ₂ reduction group allow breather-like solitons. Finally it is demonstrated that RHP with sewing function depending on three variables t, x and y provides some special solutions of the N-wave equations in three dimensions.