A precise definition of reduction of partial differential equations

We give a comprehensive analysis of interrelations between the basic concepts of the modern theory of symmetry (classical and non-classical) reductions of partial differential equations. Using the introduced definition of reduction of differential equations we establish equivalence of the non-classical (conditional symmetry) and direct (Ansatz) approaches to reduction of partial differential equations. As an illustration we give an example of non-classical reduction of the nonlinear wave equation in (1+3) dimensions. The conditional symmetry approach when applied to the equation in question yields a number of non-Lie reductions which are far-reaching generalization of the well-known symmetry reductions of the nonlinear wave equations.Comment: LaTeX, 21 page

Algorithmic Thomas Decomposition of Algebraic and Differential Systems

In this paper, we consider systems of algebraic and non-linear partial differential equations and inequations. We decompose these systems into so-called simple subsystems and thereby partition the set of solutions. For algebraic systems, simplicity means triangularity, square-freeness and non-vanishing initials. Differential simplicity extends algebraic simplicity with involutivity. We build upon the constructive ideas of J. M. Thomas and develop them into a new algorithm for disjoint decomposition. The given paper is a revised version of a previous paper and includes the proofs of correctness and termination of our decomposition algorithm. In addition, we illustrate the algorithm with further instructive examples and describe its Maple implementation together with an experimental comparison to some other triangular decomposition algorithms.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1008.376