Characterization of Jacobian varieties in terms of soliton equations (Q1089841)

An equivalence theorem is stated concerning the two properties of a principally polarized abelian variety X: (B) X is isomorphic to the Jacobian variety of a complete smooth curve of genus g over complex numbers; (A) The theta divisor of X is irreducible, and the Riemannian theta function of X gives a certain family of solutions to the Kadomtsev- Petviashvili equation. The implication (B)\(\to (A)\) has been proven by \textit{I. M. Krichever} [Russ. Math. Surv. 32, No.6, 185-213 (1977); translation from Ups. Mat. Nauk 32, No.6(198), 183-208 (1977; Zbl 0372.35002)] and (A)\(\to (B)\) had been conjectured by S. P. Novikov as an answer to Schottky's problem [see \textit{D. Mumford}, ''Curves and their Jacobians'' (1975; Zbl 0316.14010)]. A complete proof of the Novikov conjecture is given.