On Whitham theory for perturbed integrable equations

Abstract Whitham theory of modulations is developed for periodic waves described by nonlinear wave equations integrable by the inverse scattering transform method associated with 2×2 matrix or second order scalar spectral problems. The theory is illustrated by derivation of the Whitham equations for perturbed Korteweg–de Vries equation and nonlinear Schrodinger equation with linear damping.