AbstractBased on the modified direct method, the variable-coefficient perturbed mKdV equation is changed to the constant-coefficient perturbed mKdV equation. The truncated Painlevé method is applied to obtain the nonlocal symmetry of the constant-coefficient perturbed mKdV equation. By introducing one new dependent variable, the nonlocal symmetry can be localized to the Lie point symmetry. Thanks to the localization procedure, the finite symmetry transformation is presented by solving the initial value problem of the prolonged systems. Furthermore, many explicit interaction solutions among different types of solutions such as solitary waves, rational solutions, and Painlevé II solutions are obtained using the symmetry reduction method to the enlarged systems. Two special concrete soliton-cnoidal interaction solutions are studied in both analytical and graphical ways.
Airy kernel and Painlevé II
