Continuum limits of pluri-Lagrangian systems. Issue 1 (18th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vermeeren, Mats
• Is Part Of: Journal of integrable systems. Volume 4:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-02-18
• Subjects: Pluri-Lagrangian systems -- Lagrangian multiforms -- multidimensional consistency -- integrable hierarchies; Mathematics -- Periodicals; 510
• DOI: 10.1093/integr/xyy020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2058-5985

Abstract

Abstract: A pluri-Lagrangian (or Lagrangian multiform) structure is an attribute of integrability that has mainly been studied in the context of multidimensionally consistent lattice equations. It unifies multidimensional consistency with the variational character of the equations. An analogous continuous structure exists for integrable hierarchies of differential equations. We present a continuum limit procedure for pluri-Lagrangian systems. In this procedure, the lattice parameters are interpreted as Miwa variables, describing a particular embedding in continuous multi-time of the mesh on which the discrete system lives. Then, we seek differential equations whose solutions interpolate the embedded discrete solutions. The continuous systems found this way are hierarchies of differential equations. We show that this continuum limit can also be applied to the corresponding pluri-Lagrangian structures. We apply our method to the discrete Toda lattice and to equations H1 and Q1$_{\delta = 0}$ from the ABS list.