A (2 + 1)-dimensional generalization of the AKNS shallow water wave equation

An integrable generalization to 2+1 dimensions of the shallow water wave equation of Ablowitz, Kaup, Newell and Segur [Stud. Appl. Math. 53 (1974) 249] is sought through the bilinear approach. This equation is shown to belong to the KP hierarchy and a broad class of solutions including the N-soliton solution is obtained.