Nonlinear Schrödinger equation: Generalized Darboux transformation and rogue wave solutions

In this paper, we construct a generalized Darboux transformation for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The associated N-fold Darboux transformation is given in terms of both a summation formula and determinants. As applications, we obtain compact representations for the Nth-order rogue wave solutions of the focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation and Hirota equation. In particular, the dynamics of the general third-order rogue wave is discussed and shown to exhibit interesting structures.