Classification of local and nonlocal symmetries of fourth-order nonlinear evolution equations (Q711211)

The main goal of the article is to classify local and nonlocal symmetries of the nonlinear fourth order evolution equations of the form \[ u_t=F(t,x,u,u_x,u_{xx},u_{xxx})u_{xxxx}+G(t,x,u,u_x,u_{xx},u_{xxx}), \] where \(F\) and \(G\) are arbitrary smooth functions and \(F\neq 0\). Firstly, by using the approach developed by \textit{R. Zhdanov} and \textit{V. Lahno} [J. Phys. A, Math. Gen. 32, 7405--7418 (1999; Zbl 0990.35009)], the authors perform a preliminary group classification. They obtain an exhaustive description of the evolution equations, whose invariance algebra contains a solvable algebra of dimension \(n\leq 4\). Based in group-theoretical approach to the problem of classification of evolution equations that admit non-local transformation groups, they give the group classification for quasi-local symmetries. They develop a procedure for constructing partial differential equations admitting non-Lie symmetries. They show two examples of nonlinear equations of this form which possess nonlocal symmetries. These symmetries can not be obtained by means of the traditional Lie approach.