On a certain invariant of differential equations associated with nilpotent graded Lie algebras (Q1797233)

Differential systems \((R,D)\) (i.e. distributions \(D\) on manifolds \(M\)) are investigated. A new numerical (local) invariant for some such systems is introduced in this article. This invariant \(N(w)\) is defined for any point \(w \in M\). In the definition some nilpotent graded Lie algebras (which are called symbol algebras), corresponding to \((R,D)\), are used. Two classes of differential systems -- second order regular scalar PDE's and second-order regular overdetermined systems (with two independent and one dependent variables) -- are analyzed with aid of this new invariant.