Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / iii / Paper 336 / 1 / a / Solution

The chain rule andgiveApplying the same rule to $L_1$ and $L_2$ in the Euler-Lagrange field equation yields the exact modulated equation

Multiply this equation by ${\Phi }_{\theta }$. Since $k$ and $\omega$ are independent of the fast phase,The product rule then rearranges the field equation into the exact modulated-wave first integralAverage this identity over one $2\pi$ period in $\theta$. Periodicity kills the first term, while differentiation of the averaged Lagrangian givesConsequently

The same two equations follow directly from the modulated variational principle. Varying $\Phi$ giveswhich is the exact field equation above. For a variation of $\Theta$, use $\delta k={\partial }_X\delta \Theta$ and $\delta \omega =-{\partial }_T\delta \Theta$. Integration by parts in $X$ and $T$ gives the averaged equation. Thus variation with respect to the periodic profile reproduces the local wave equation, whereas variation with respect to its slow phase gives the Whitham modulation equation for wave action.