Several classes of exact solutions to the 1 + 1 Born–Infeld equation

•Multiple families of exact solution obtained for the Born–Infeld equation.•General single and double wave solutions constructed.•Various non-wave solutions obtained.•Under Wick rotations minimal surface solutions become Born–Infeld solutions.

We obtain closed-form exact solutions to the 1 + 1 Born–Infeld equation arising in nonlinear electrodynamics. In particular, we obtain general traveling wave solutions of one wave variable, solutions of two wave variables, similarity solutions, multiplicatively separable solutions, and additively separable solutions. Then, putting the Born–Infeld model into correspondence with the minimal surface equation using a Wick rotation, we are able to construct complex helicoid solutions, transformed catenoid solutions, and complex analogues of Scherk’s first and second surfaces. Some of the obtained solutions are new, whereas others are generalizations of solutions in the literature. These exact solutions demonstrate the fact that solutions to the Born–Infeld model can exhibit a variety of behaviors. Exploiting the integrability of the Born–Infeld equation, the solutions are constructed elegantly, without the need for complicated analytical algorithms.