Poisson vertex algebras in the theory of Hamiltonian equations

We lay down the foundations of the theory of Poisson vertex algebras aimed at its applications to integrability of Hamiltonian partial differential equations. Such an equation is called integrable if it can be included in an infinite hierarchy of compatible Hamiltonian equations, which admit an infinite sequence of linearly independent integrals of motion in involution. The construction of a hierarchy and its integrals of motion is achieved by making use of the so called Lenard scheme. We find simple conditions which guarantee that the scheme produces an infinite sequence of closed 1-forms \omega_j, j in Z_+, of the variational complex \Omega. If these forms are exact, i.e. \omega_j are variational derivatives of some local functionals \int h_j, then the latter are integrals of motion in involution of the hierarchy formed by the corresponding Hamiltonian vector fields. We show that the complex \Omega is exact, provided that the algebra of functions V is "normal"; in particular, for arbitrary V, any closed form in \Omega becomes exact if we add to V a finite number of antiderivatives. We demonstrate on the examples of KdV, HD and CNW hierarchies how the Lenard scheme works. We also discover a new integrable hierarchy, which we call the CNW hierarchy of HD type. Developing the ideas of Dorfman, we extend the Lenard scheme to arbitrary Dirac structures, and demonstrate its applicability on the examples of the NLS, pKdV and KN hierarchies.Comment: 95 page

Completeness and Incompleteness of Synchronous Kleene Algebra

Synchronous Kleene algebra (SKA), an extension of Kleene algebra (KA), was proposed by Prisacariu as a tool for reasoning about programs that may execute synchronously, i.e., in lock-step. We provide a countermodel witnessing that the axioms of SKA are incomplete w.r.t. its language semantics, by exploiting a lack of interaction between the synchronous product operator and the Kleene star. We then propose an alternative set of axioms for SKA, based on Salomaa's axiomatisation of regular languages, and show that these provide a sound and complete characterisation w.r.t. the original language semantics.Comment: Accepted at MPC 201

The Proca Field in Curved Spacetimes and its Zero Mass Limit

We investigate the classical and quantum Proca field (a massive vector potential) of mass $m>0$ in arbitrary globally hyperbolic spacetimes and in the presence of external sources. We motivate a notion of continuity in the mass for families of observables $\left\{O_m\right\}_{m>0}$ and we investigate the massless limit $m\to0$. Our limiting procedure is local and covariant and it does not require a choice of reference state. We find that the limit exists only on a subset of observables, which automatically implements a gauge equivalence on the massless vector potential. For topologically non-trivial spacetimes, one may consider several inequivalent choices of gauge equivalence and our procedure selects the one which is expected from considerations involving the Aharonov-Bohm effect and Gauss' law. We note that the limiting theory does not automatically reproduce Maxwell's equation, but it can be imposed consistently when the external current is conserved. To recover the correct Maxwell dynamics from the limiting procedure would require an additional control on limits of states. We illustrate this only in the classical case, where the dynamics is recovered when the Lorenz constraint remains well behaved in the limit.Comment: 35 page