Bilinear form and soliton interactions for the modified Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation in fluid dynamics and plasma physics

In this paper, we investigate the modified Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (mKP) equation for the nonlinear waves in fluid dynamics and plasma physics. By virtue of the rational transformation and auxiliary function, new bilinear form for the mKP equation is constructed, which is different from those in previous literatures. Based on the bilinear form, one- and two-soliton solutions are obtained with the Hirota method and symbolic computation. Propagation and interactions of shock and solitary waves are investigated analytically and graphically. Parametric conditions for the existence of the shock, elevation solitary, and depression solitary waves are given. From the two-soliton solutions, we find that the (i) parallel elastic interactions can exist between the (a) shock and solitary waves, and (b) two elevation/depression solitary waves; (ii) oblique elastic interactions can exist between the (a) shock and solitary waves, and (b) two solitary waves; (iii) oblique inelastic interactions can exist between the (a) two shock waves, (b) two elevation/depression solitary waves, and (c) shock and solitary waves.