Abstract

In this paper, we consider the 1 + 1-dimensional vector-valued principal chiral field model (PCF) obtained as a simplification of the vacuum Einstein field equations under the Belinski–Zakharov symmetry. PCF is an integrable model, but a rigorous description of its evolution is far from complete. Here we provide the existence of local solutions in a suitable chosen energy space, as well as small global smooth solutions under a certain non degeneracy condition. We also construct virial functionals which provide a clear description of decay of smooth global solutions inside the light cone. Finally, some applications are presented in the case of PCF solitons, a first step toward the study of its nonlinear stability.