Numerical integrations of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation for Alfvén waves, supplemented by a weak dissipative term (originating from diffusion or Landau damping), with initial conditions in the form of a bright soliton with nonvanishing conditions at infinity (oblique soliton), reveal an interesting phenomenon of “quasicollapse”: as the dissipation parameter is reduced, larger amplitudes are reached and smaller scales are created, but on an increasing time scale. This process involves an early bifurcation of the initial soliton toward a breather that is analyzed by means of a numerical inverse scattering technique. This evolution leads to the formation of persistent dark solitons that are only weakly affected when crossed by the decaying breather which has the form of either a localized structure or an extended wave packet.

• Received 4 April 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.82.016406