On the stability of plane wave and soliton solutions to the Zakharov equations

Plane wave and soliton solutions of the two types of Zakharov equation (two dimensional and simplified one directional) are considered. Stability properties in one dimensional space are seen to be similar. This is interesting, as the first type of equation is not solvable whereas the second is. The soliton solutions of both are one dimensionally stable but those of the full Zakharov equations are unstable with respect to perpendicular perturbations. Regions of stability of nonlinear wave and shock wave solutions in parameter space as well as growth rates of instabilities are given.