Discrete systems and integrability (Q2814162)

The monograph is an introduction to the theory of discrete integrable systems and it is written by respected experts in the field, namely J. Hietarinta, N. Joshi and F. W. Nijhoff.NEWLINENEWLINEWhat are `discrete integrable systems'? Loosely speaking these are difference (instead of differential) equations that can be `integrated', i.e., solved. Fortunately, integrable systems have so far resisted a complete definition. In particular, the definition of integrability for discrete systems turned out to be even more elusive than in the continuous case, as much of the intuition associated with differential equations is lost.NEWLINENEWLINEWhatever integrable systems actually are, any expert in the field can produce a long list of integrable systems and of properties they must satisfy. In the monograph under review, the authors introduce and analyse the most comprehensive list of discrete integrable systems that has so far appeared in the literature. This text opens so many doors to the world of discrete integrable system that it is impossible to mention all of them here. To mention but a few: Backlünd transformations of continuous integrable systems, discretization of continuous systems, lattice equations, the Adler-Bobenko-Suris classification, integrability tests such as the singularity confinement property or the algebraic entropy, the Okamoto's space of initial conditions, the Hirota's bilinear method, discrete Painleve equations, and Lagrangian multiform theory.NEWLINENEWLINEA good idea of the content of the book is also given by the list of the chapters:NEWLINENEWLINE1. Introduction to difference equationsNEWLINENEWLINE2. Discrete equations from transformations of continuous equationsNEWLINENEWLINE3. Integrability of partial difference equationsNEWLINENEWLINE4. Interlude: lattice equations and numerical algorithmsNEWLINENEWLINE5. Continuum limits of lattice partial difference equationsNEWLINENEWLINE6. One-dimensional lattices and mapsNEWLINENEWLINE7. Identifying integrable difference equationsNEWLINENEWLINE8. Hirota's bilinear methodNEWLINENEWLINE9. Multi-soliton solutions and the Cauchy matrix schemeNEWLINENEWLINE10. Similarity reductions of integrable partial difference equationsNEWLINENEWLINE11. Discrete Painlevé equationsNEWLINENEWLINE12. Lagrangian multiform theoryNEWLINENEWLINEThe book is mostly written at an elementary level and most proofs are only hinted; however the reference to the complete proof in the literature is always very precise.NEWLINENEWLINEEvery chapter is complemented by a section of historical and bibliographical notes, and by a section of exercises. This makes the book particularly suitable for self-study. It is in fact perfectly suited for a good beginning graduate student: I cannot think of a better way to become rapidly an expert in this field than studying this monograph, repeating every calculation, and doing all the exercises. It will be a lot of work but a useful and entertaining one. And he/she will be left with a lot of curiosity about the many fields of mathematics that are surprisingly related to the field of discrete integrable systems. Moreover, given the quantity of topics covered, the comprehensive 30-pages-long bibliography and the extensive Index, this monograph serves also as a useful reference book for experts in the field of discrete integrable systems and related disciplines.NEWLINENEWLINEThere are few other monographs on discrete integrable systems available in the literature, namely \textit{Y. B. Suris} [The problem of integrable discretization: Hamiltonian approach. Basel: Birkhäuser (2003; Zbl 1033.37030)], \textit{A. I. Bobenko} and \textit{Y. B. Suris} [Discrete differential geometry. Integrable structure. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (2008; Zbl 1158.53001)], and \textit{J. J. Duistermaat}, [Discrete integrable systems. QRT maps and elliptic surfaces. Berlin: Springer (2011; Zbl 1219.14001)]. All these texts are comparatively more advanced and more specialised than the one under review.