Flag partial differential equations and representations of Lie algebras (Q934838)

Partial differential equations of flag type are linear equations for a single unknown function \(u\) of the form \((d_1+f_1d_2+\cdots+f_{n-1}d_n)u=0,\) where \(d_1,\dots, d_n\) are commuting, locally nilpotent differential operators and \(f_1,\dots,f_{n-1}\) are polynomials satisfying \(d_i(f_j)=0\) whenever \(i>j\). They appear naturally in the representation theory of Lie algebras. The author proposes an algebraic method for the construction of polynomial solutions and applies it to a number of examples including generalized forms of the wave equation, the heat equation and the Laplace equation. Based on these results, two initial value problems are solved. Finally, as an application explicit bases for polynomial representations of Lie algebras are constructed.