Symmetry classification of quasi-linear PDE's containing arbitrary functions

We consider the problem of performing the preliminary "symmetry classification'' of a class of quasi-linear PDE's containing one or more arbitrary functions: we provide an easy condition involving these functions in order that nontrivial Lie point symmetries be admitted, and a "geometrical'' characterization of the relevant system of equations determining these symmetries. Two detailed examples will elucidate the idea and the procedure: the first one concerns a nonlinear Laplace-type equation, the second a generalization of an equation (the Grad-Schl\"uter-Shafranov equation) which is used in magnetohydrodynamics.Comment: 15 pages; to be published in Nonlinear Dynamic

On the connections between symmetries and conservation rules of dynamical systems

The strict connection between Lie point-symmetries of a dynamical system and its constants of motion is discussed and emphasized, through old and new results. It is shown in particular how the knowledge of a symmetry of a dynamical system can allow to obtain conserved quantities which are invariant under the symmetry. In the case of Hamiltonian dynamical systems it is shown that, if the system admits a symmetry of "weaker" type (specifically, a \lambda\ or a \Lambda-symmetry), then the generating function of the symmetry is not a conserved quantity, but the deviation from the exact conservation is "controlled" in a well defined way. Several examples illustrate the various aspects.Comment: 13 pages, no fi

Symmetries of Hamiltonian equations and Lambda-constants of motion

We consider symmetries and perturbed symmetries of canonical Hamiltonian equations of motion. Specifically we consider the case in which the Hamiltonian equations exhibit a Lambda symmetry under some Lie point vector field. After a brief survey of the relationships between standard symmetries and the existence of first integrals, we recall the definition and the properties of Lambda symmetries. We show that in the presence of a Lambda symmetry for the Hamiltonian equations, one can introduce the notion of "Lambda-constant of motion". The presence of a Lambda symmetry leads also to a nice and useful reduction of the form of the equations. We then consider the case in which the Hamiltonian problem is deduced from a Lambda-invariant Lagrangian. We illustrate how the Lagrangian Lambda-invariance is transferred into the Hamiltonian context and show that the Hamiltonian equations are Lambda-symmetric. We also compare the "partial" (Lagrangian) reduction of the Euler-Lagrange equations with the reduction which can be obtained for the Hamiltonian equations. Several examples illustrate and clarify the various situations.Comment: 19 page

Symmetries and (Related) Recursion Operators of Linear Evolution Equations

Significant cases of time-evolution equations, the linear Schr¨odinger and the Fokker–Planck equation are considered. It is known that equations of this type can be transformed, in some cases, into a highly simplified form. The properties of these equations in their initial and their simplified form are compared, showing in particular that this transformation partially prevents a clear understanding and a full application of the (physically relevant) notion of the so-called step up/down operators. These operators are shown to be recursion operators, related to the Lie point symmetries of the equations, which are also carefully discussed

Orbital reducibility and a generalization of lambda symmetries

We review the notion of reducibility and we introduce and discuss the notion of orbital reducibility for autonomous ordinary differential equations of first order. The relation between (orbital) reducibility and (orbital) symmetry is investigated and employed to construct (orbitally) reducible systems. By standard identifications, the notions extend to non-autonomous ODEs of first and higher order. Moreover we thus obtain a generalization of the lambda symmetries of Muriel and Romero. Several examples are given.Comment: 25 pages; to appear in "Journal of Lie Theory" (http://www.emis.de/journals/JLT/

A generalization of \lambda-symmetry reduction for systems of ODEs: \sigma-symmetries

We consider a deformation of the prolongation operation, defined on sets of vector fields and involving a mutual interaction in the definition of prolonged ones. This maintains the "invariants by differentiation" property, and can hence be used to reduce ODEs satisfying suitable invariance conditions in a fully algorithmic way, similarly to what happens for standard prolongations and symmetries.Comment: 32 page

Reduction of systems of first-order differential equations via Lambda-symmetries

The notion of lambda-symmetries, originally introduced by C. Muriel and J.L. Romero, is extended to the case of systems of first-order ODE's (and of dynamical systems in particular). It is shown that the existence of a symmetry of this type produces a reduction of the differential equations, restricting the presence of the variables involved in the problem. The results are compared with the case of standard (i.e. exact) Lie-point symmetries and are also illustrated by some examples.Comment: 12 page

Dynamical systems and \sigma-symmetries

A deformation of the standard prolongation operation, defined on sets of vector fields in involution rather than on single ones, was recently introduced and christened "\sigma-prolongation"; correspondingly one has "\sigma-symmetries" of differential equations. These can be used to reduce the equations under study, but the general reduction procedure under \sigma-symmetries fails for equations of order one. In this note we discuss how \sigma-symmetries can be used to reduce dynamical systems, i.e. sets of first order ODEs in the form dx^a/dt = f^a (x)