Introduction to Classical Integrable Systems

A clear and pedagogical introduction to the theory of classical integrable systems and their applications.

Olivier Babelon (Author), Denis Bernard (Author), Michel Talon (Author)

9780521036702, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 February 2007

616 pages, 11 b/w illus. 3 tables
24.3 x 16.9 x 3.2 cm, 0.959 kg

'This monograph provides a thorough introduction to the theory of classical integrable systems … The book contains many worked examples and is suitable for use as a textbook on graduate courses. For researchers already working in this field this book is a valuable source of information which provides an excellent overview of the established results and the present developments.' Zentralblatt MATH

This book provides a thorough introduction to the theory of classical integrable systems, discussing the various approaches to the subject and explaining their interrelations. The book begins by introducing the central ideas of the theory of integrable systems, based on Lax representations, loop groups and Riemann surfaces. These ideas are then illustrated with detailed studies of model systems. The connection between isomonodromic deformation and integrability is discussed, and integrable field theories are covered in detail. The KP, KdV and Toda hierarchies are explained using the notion of Grassmannian, vertex operators and pseudo-differential operators. A chapter is devoted to the inverse scattering method and three complementary chapters cover the necessary mathematical tools from symplectic geometry, Riemann surfaces and Lie algebras. The book contains many worked examples and is suitable for use as a textbook on graduate courses. It also provides a comprehensive reference for researchers already working in the field.

1. Introduction
2. Integrable dynamical systems
3. Synopsis of integrable systems
4. Algebraic methods
5. Analytical methods
6. The closed Toda chain
7. The Calogero-Moser model
8. Isomonodromic deformations
9. Grassmannian and integrable hierarchies
10. The KP hierarchy
11. The KdV hierarchy
12. The Toda field theories
13. Classical inverse scattering method
14. Symplectic geometry
15. Riemann surfaces
16. Lie algebras
Index.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH], Applied mathematics [PBW]