Formal integrability criteria for nonlinear partial difference equations (Q1037623)

Using techniques from exterior difference calculus, the authors investigate geometric properties of discrete jet bundles. Moreover, they define the formal integrability and discrete Spencer cohomology for nonlinear partial difference equations. In doing so, formal integrability criteria are obtained. More detailed: (1) From the difference \(1\)-forms on a regular lattice, they define the discrete tensor algebra, which can generate the discrete polynomial and exterior difference algebra. Further, the discrete Spencer cohomology is introduced by investigating the properties of discrete jet bundles on a regular lattice such as prolongation and symbol (Sect.\ 2--4). (2) The authors reserve the definition of nonlinear partial difference equations as the kernel of a map of discrete jet bundles with constant rank. In addition, formal solutions and formal integrability are defined. The discrete Spencer cohomology and further conditions yield two formal integrability criteria. The results rely on homological algebra and related areas.