Eigenvalues of the Zakharov–Shabat scattering problem for two separated sech-shaped pulses

It is shown that the initial condition of two separated sech-shaped in-phase pulses in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, may give rise to not only stationary solitons, but also symmetrically separating solitons, provided the initial distance of separation is large enough. The critical distance between the pulses for which a separating soliton pair can be found for certain amplitudes is derived using a variational approach.