**A direct method of solution for the Fokas-Lenells derivative**

**nonlinear Schrödinger equation: II. Dark soliton solutions**

Yoshimasa Matsuno[^1]

*Division of Applied Mathematical Science,*

*Graduate School of Science and Engineering*

*Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8611, Japan*

In a previous study (Matsuno Y [ *J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.*]{} [**45**]{} (2012) 23202), we have developed a systematic method for obtaining the bright soliton solutions of the Fokas-Lenells derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation (FL equation shortly) under vanishing boundary condition. In this paper, we apply the method to the FL equation with nonvanishing boundary condition. In particular, we deal with a more sophisticated problem on the dark soliton solutions with a plane wave boundary condition. We first derive the novel system of bilinear equations which is reduced from the FL equation through a dependent variable transformation and then construct the general dark $N$-soliton solution of the system, where $N$ is an arbitrary positive integer. In the process, a trilinear equation derived from the system of bilinear equations plays an important role. As a byproduct, this equation gives the dark $N$-soliton solution of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation on the background of a plane wave. We then investigate the properties of the one-soliton solutions in 