On the combinatorics of Demoulin transforms and (discrete) projective minimal surfaces

The classical Demoulin transformation is examined in the context of discrete differential geometry. We show that iterative application of the Demoulin transformation to a seed projective minimal surface generates a Z 2 lattice of projective minimal surfaces. Known and novel geometric properties of these Demoulin lattices are discussed and used to motivate the notion of lattice Lie quadrics and associated discrete envelopes and the definition of the class of discrete projective minimal and Q-surfaces (PMQ-surfaces). We demonstrate that the even and odd Demoulin sublattices encode a two-parameter family of pairs of discrete PMQ-surfaces with the property that one discrete PMQ-surface constitute an envelope of the lattice Lie quadrics associated with the other

Surface theory in discrete projective differential geometry. I. A canonical frame and an integrable discrete Demoulin system

We present the first steps of a procedure which discretises surface theory in classical projective differential geometry in such a manner that underlying integrable structure is preserved. We propose a canonical frame in terms of which the associated projective Gauss-Weingarten and Gauss-Mainardi-Codazzi equations adopt compact forms. Based on a scaling symmetry which injects a parameter into the linear Gauss-Weingarten equations, we set down an algebraic classification scheme of discrete projective minimal surfaces which turns out to admit a geometric counterpart formulated in terms of discrete notions of Lie quadrics and their envelopes. In the case of discrete Demoulin surfaces, we derive a Backlund transformation for the underlying discrete Demoulin system and show how the latter may be formulated as a two-component generalisation of the integrable discrete Tzitzeica equation which has originally been derived in a different context. At the geometric level, this connection leads to the retrieval of the standard discretisation of affine spheres in affine differential geometry

Integrable discrete nets in Grassmannians

We consider discrete nets in Grassmannians $\mathbb{G}^d_r$ which generalize Q-nets (maps $\mathbb{Z}^N\to\mathbb{P}^d$ with planar elementary quadrilaterals) and Darboux nets ($\mathbb{P}^d$-valued maps defined on the edges of $\mathbb{Z}^N$ such that quadruples of points corresponding to elementary squares are all collinear). We give a geometric proof of integrability (multidimensional consistency) of these novel nets, and show that they are analytically described by the noncommutative discrete Darboux system.Comment: 10 p

Geometric discretization of the Bianchi system

We introduce the dual Koenigs lattices, which are the integrable discrete analogues of conjugate nets with equal tangential invariants, and we find the corresponding reduction of the fundamental transformation. We also introduce the notion of discrete normal congruences. Finally, considering quadrilateral lattices "with equal tangential invariants" which allow for harmonic normal congruences we obtain, in complete analogy with the continuous case, the integrable discrete analogue of the Bianchi system together with its geometric meaning. To obtain this geometric meaning we also make use of the novel characterization of the circular lattice as a quadrilateral lattice whose coordinate lines intersect orthogonally in the mean.Comment: 26 pages, 7 postscript figure

On Darboux Integrable Semi-Discrete Chains

Differential-difference equation $\frac{d}{dx}t(n+1,x)=f(x,t(n,x),t(n+1,x),\frac{d}{dx}t(n,x))$ with unknown $t(n,x)$ depending on continuous and discrete variables $x$ and $n$ is studied. We call an equation of such kind Darboux integrable, if there exist two functions (called integrals) $F$ and $I$ of a finite number of dynamical variables such that $D_xF=0$ and $DI=I$, where $D_x$ is the operator of total differentiation with respect to $x$, and $D$ is the shift operator: $Dp(n)=p(n+1)$. It is proved that the integrals can be brought to some canonical form. A method of construction of an explicit formula for general solution to Darboux integrable chains is discussed and for a class of chains such solutions are found.Comment: 19 page

On the linearization of the generalized Ermakov systems

A linearization procedure is proposed for Ermakov systems with frequency depending on dynamic variables. The procedure applies to a wide class of generalized Ermakov systems which are linearizable in a manner similar to that applicable to usual Ermakov systems. The Kepler--Ermakov systems belong into this category but others, more generic, systems are also included

Geometric discretization of the Koenigs nets

We introduce the Koenigs lattice, which is a new integrable reduction of the quadrilateral lattice (discrete conjugate net) and provides natural integrable discrete analogue of the Koenigs net. We construct the Darboux-type transformations of the Koenigs lattice and we show permutability of superpositions of such transformations, thus proving integrability of the Koenigs lattice. We also investigate the geometry of the discrete Koenigs transformation. In particular we characterize the Koenigs transformation in terms of an involution determined by a congruence conjugate to the lattice.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures; some spelling and typing errors correcte

Tzitz\'eica transformation is a dressing action

We classify the simplest rational elements in a twisted loop group, and prove that dressing actions of them on proper indefinite affine spheres give the classical Tzitz\'eica transformation and its dual. We also give the group point of view of the Permutability Theorem, construct complex Tzitz\'eica transformations, and discuss the group structure for these transformations

Darboux transformations for 5-point and 7-point self-adjoint schemes and an integrable discretization of the 2D Schrodinger operator

With this paper we begin an investigation of difference schemes that possess Darboux transformations and can be regarded as natural discretizations of elliptic partial differential equations. We construct, in particular, the Darboux transformations for the general self adjoint schemes with five and seven neighbouring points. We also introduce a distinguished discretization of the two-dimensional stationary Schrodinger equation, described by a 5-point difference scheme involving two potentials, which admits a Darboux transformation.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur

Constructing solutions to the Bj\"orling problem for isothermic surfaces by structure preserving discretization

In this article, we study an analog of the Bj\"orling problem for isothermic surfaces (that are more general than minimal surfaces): given a real analytic curve $\gamma$ in ${\mathbb R}^3$, and two analytic non-vanishing orthogonal vector fields $v$ and $w$ along $\gamma$, find an isothermic surface that is tangent to $\gamma$ and that has $v$ and $w$ as principal directions of curvature. We prove that solutions to that problem can be obtained by constructing a family of discrete isothermic surfaces (in the sense of Bobenko and Pinkall) from data that is sampled along $\gamma$, and passing to the limit of vanishing mesh size. The proof relies on a rephrasing of the Gauss-Codazzi-system as analytic Cauchy problem and an in-depth-analysis of its discretization which is induced from the geometry of discrete isothermic surfaces. The discrete-to-continuous limit is carried out for the Christoffel and the Darboux transformations as well.Comment: 29 pages, some figure