Formation of singularities for Monge-Ampère equations (Q1904842)

The author resolves the general Cauchy problem \[ z(X(\alpha), Y(\alpha))= Z(\alpha),\;z_x(X(\alpha), Y(\alpha))= P(\alpha),\;z_y(X(\alpha), Y(\alpha))= Q(\alpha) \] for the Monge-Ampère equation \(Az_{xx}+ Bz_{xy}+ Cz_{yy}+ D(z_{xx} z_{yy}- z^2_{xy})= E\) of hyperbolic type in the real domain assuming the existence of functionally independent first integrals \(u\), \(v\) (functions of \(x\), \(y\), \(z\), \(z_x\), \(z_y\)) of either characteristic system. If the given initial strip \(x= X(\alpha),\dots, z_y= Q(\alpha)\) satisfying the familiar strip condition \(Z'= PX'+ QY'\) is a non-characteristic one, the classical Darboux-Coursat method can be applied: The sought solution satisfies a certain first-order equation \(g(u, v)= 0\). Then the global behaviour of characteristics of the latter equation precisely determines the singularities of solution of the primary Cauchy problem.