Exterior differential systems with symmetry (Q2487193)

Given a system of differential equations with a symmetry group, the mechanism for determining invariant solutions is well understood. To find the other solutions with little or no symmetry, one needs to consider a reduced system of differential equations. \noindent In this article, by taking advantage of the fact that Exterior Differential Systems (EDS) in general provide a convenient intrinsic geometric platform to the study of differential equations, Lie's reduction method of finding solutions without symmetry is translated to the setting of EDS, and by doing so, many of the problems in Lie's approach disappear. \noindent Associated to a system of differential equations with symmetry, there is an EDS with symmetry whose integral manifolds contain the solutions to the original differential equations. The reduced EDS by the symmetry group is then easy to define. It is found that if the symmetry group of the EDS satisfies certain transversality conditions then the entire orbit of a solution to the original system of differential equations corresponds to a single integral manifold for the reduced EDS. Conversely, given a single integral manifold to the reduced EDS for a freely acting Lie group, it is easy to construct an orbit of noninvariant solutions to the original system. Plenty of concrete and illustrative examples are provided.