One-parameter Lie groups and inverse integrating factors of \(n\)-th order autonomous systems (Q662105)

In the last years some works have appeared that show that the inverse integrating factors of a differential equations system can reveal some qualitative properties of the system. The key role that the inverse integrating factors play in the different theories of integrability has also been shown recently. An \(n\)-th order autonomous system can be integrated if one can get an integrating factor under knowing \(n-2\) first integrals using the Jacobi Theorem. From the traditional theory of Lie groups we know that for \(n\)-th order autonomous systems, in order to obtain integrating factors, a multiple-parameter Lie group admitted by the systems is required, see [\textit{P. J. Olver}, Applications of Lie groups to differential equations. 2nd ed. Grad. Texts Math. 107. New York: Springer-Verlag (1993; Zbl 0785.58003)]. Another classical result is that for a second order autonomous system, we can get an integrating factor if we know a one-parameter Lie group admitted by the system. In fact, the inverse integrating factor is given by the wedge product of the two vector fields associated to the system and to the Lie symmetry, i.e., \[ V(x,y):= {\mathcal X} \qquad {\mathcal Y} = P \eta - Q \xi. \] In the paper under review the authors generalize this result. They give the approach to obtain inverse integrating factors by means of previously known \(n-1\) independent one-parameter Lie groups admitted by the system. Moreover, describing \(n\)-th order autonomous systems by differential form systems, properties of inverse integrating factors of the \(n\)-th order autonomous systems are presented.