Abstract
The spectral transform and Bäcklund transformation for a generalization of the coupled Bloch system arising in nonlinear optics are studied. The equation is related to a singular dispersion relation and is treated as a representative example of a general method for studying such equations. The spectral transform is developed through the ∂̄ formalism. The Bäcklund transformation is derived in a very general way and solved to obtain the one-soliton and breatherlike solutions. The nonlinear superposition formula is also constructed.