We present a simple but powerful method for constructing multisoliton complexes of the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Our method is based on the Bäckrund-Darboux transformation. A closed form of the matrix determinant is given for multisoliton complexes, including the case of a nonvanishing background. We explicitly work out the solutions of two-, three-, and four-component coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations.

• Received 29 October 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.69.036606