Integrable Hamiltonian hierarchies. Spectral and geometric methods (Q5900098)

This monograph aims to discuss about the inverse scattering transform and the bi-Hamiltonian theory of soliton equations in both analytical and geometric approaches. All materials on those two important topics in soliton theory are divided into two corresponding parts. Generally speaking, the first part consisting of Chapters 1--9 deals with the inverse scattering transform -- the spectral method to solve nonlinear equations, and the second part consisting of Chapters 10--16 deals with the Hamiltonian theory laying a foundation of integrability -- the geometric theory of recursion operators. Other related interesting topics discussed include the classical \(r\)-matrix method, the so-called linear bundles of Lie algebras, and the Hamiltonian dynamics with fermionic variables. Here is a sketchy summary of Part 1. Chapter 1 gives a brief historical review and fundamental properties of soliton equations. Chapter 2 outlines the Ablowitz-Kuap-Newell-Segur method of solving soliton equations. Chapter 3 is devoted to the direct scattering problem for the Zakharov-Shabat system. Chapter 4 primarily outlines the classical approach based on the Gelfand-Levitan-Marchenko equation, the Riemann-Hilbert method, and the Zakharov-Shabat dressing method for solving the inverse scattering problem of the Zakharov-Shabat system. Chapter 5 mainly shows that the mapping of the potential of the spectral operator onto the minimal sets of scattering data is one-to-one. Chapter 6 shows how the expansions over the so-called squared eigenfunctions can be used to analyze solvable soliton equations associated with the Zakharov-Shabat system. Chapter 7 explains how to transform those solvable soliton equations into infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems. Chapter 8 deals with the gauge-equivalence between the solvable soliton equations. Chapter 9 discusses about a modern approach to Hamiltonian systems using the classical \(r\)-matrix theory. Here is a sketchy summary of Part 2. Chapter 10 gives a brief introduction to the geometric theory of Hamiltonian systems of soliton equations. Chapter 11 lists some facts from differential geometry and introduces the basic notation. Chapter 12 discusses how to define Poisson brackets based on the existences of symplectic structures and Poisson structures on manifolds and sub-manifolds. Chapter 13 develops new mathematical tools to study mixed tensor fields on Poisson manifolds including Nijenhuis tensors. Chapter 14 discusses about relations between the integrability problem and the Nijenhuis structure. Chapter 15 is entirely devoted to the geometric theory of soliton equations associated with the Zakharov-Shabat system. Chapter 16 considers the linear bundles of Lie algebras, which lead to compatible Poisson tensors in a straightforward way. The book is well organized and clearly written. In particular, the authors provide informative and helpful comments, together with bibliographical review, at the end of each chapter. The interested readers, therefore, can easily find various relevant theories and their references. It is an excellent research monograph summarizing and evaluating our growing body of research on soliton theory and integrable Hamiltonian systems.