Continuous vacua in bilinear soliton equations

We discuss the freedom in the background field (vacuum) on top of which the solitons are built. If the Hirota bilinear form of a soliton equation is given by A(D_{\vec x})\bd GF=0,\, B(D_{\vec x})(\bd FF - \bd GG)=0 where both $A$ and $B$ are even polynomials in their variables, then there can be a continuum of vacua, parametrized by a vacuum angle $\phi$. The ramifications of this freedom on the construction of one- and two-soliton solutions are discussed. We find, e.g., that once the angle $\phi$ is fixed and we choose $u=\arctan G/F$ as the physical quantity, then there are four different solitons (or kinks) connecting the vacuum angles $\pm\phi$, $\pm\phi\pm\Pi2$ (defined modulo $\pi$). The most interesting result is the existence of a ``ghost'' soliton; it goes over to the vacuum in isolation, but interacts with ``normal'' solitons by giving them a finite phase shift.Comment: 9 pages in Latex + 3 figures (not included

M\"obius Symmetry of Discrete Time Soliton Equations

We have proposed, in our previous papers, a method to characterize integrable discrete soliton equations. In this paper we generalize the method further and obtain a $q$-difference Toda equation, from which we can derive various $q$-difference soliton equations by reductions.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure, epsfig.st

Toda Lattice and Tomimatsu-Sato Solutions

We discuss an analytic proof of a conjecture (Nakamura) that solutions of Toda molecule equation give those of Ernst equation giving Tomimatsu-Sato solutions of Einstein equation. Using Pfaffian identities it is shown for Weyl solutions completely and for generic cases partially.Comment: LaTeX 8 page

A Characterization of Discrete Time Soliton Equations

We propose a method to characterize discrete time evolution equations, which generalize discrete time soliton equations, including the $q$-difference Painlev\'e IV equations discussed recently by Kajiwara, Noumi and Yamada.Comment: 13 page

Pfaffian and Determinant Solutions to A Discretized Toda Equation for Br,CrB_r, C_r and DrD_r

We consider a class of 2 dimensional Toda equations on discrete space-time. It has arisen as functional relations in commuting family of transfer matrices in solvable lattice models associated with any classical simple Lie algebra $X_r$. For $X_r = B_r, C_r$ and $D_r$, we present the solution in terms of Pfaffians and determinants. They may be viewed as Yangian analogues of the classical Jacobi-Trudi formula on Schur functions.Comment: Plain Tex, 9 page

Novel in-gap spin state in Zn-doped La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO_4

Low-energy spin excitations of La1.85Sr0.15Cu1-yZnyO4 were studied by neutron scattering. In y=0.004, the incommensurate magnetic peaks show a well defined ``spin gap'' below Tc. The magnetic signals at omega=3 meV decrease below Tc=27 K for y=0.008, also suggesting the gap opening. At lower temperatures, however, the signal increases again, implying a novel in-gap spin state. In y=0.017, the spin gap vanishes and elastic magnetic peaks appear. These results clarify that doped Zn impurities induce the novel in-gap state, which becomes larger and more static with increasing Zn.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

A survey of Hirota's difference equations

A review of selected topics in Hirota's bilinear difference equation (HBDE) is given. This famous 3-dimensional difference equation is known to provide a canonical integrable discretization for most important types of soliton equations. Similarly to the continuous theory, HBDE is a member of an infinite hierarchy. The central point of our exposition is a discrete version of the zero curvature condition explicitly written in the form of discrete Zakharov-Shabat equations for M-operators realized as difference or pseudo-difference operators. A unified approach to various types of M-operators and zero curvature representations is suggested. Different reductions of HBDE to 2-dimensional equations are considered. Among them discrete counterparts of the KdV, sine-Gordon, Toda chain, relativistic Toda chain and other typical examples are discussed in detail.Comment: LaTeX, 43 pages, LaTeX figures (with emlines2.sty

Zn and Ni doping effects on the low-energy spin excitations in La1.85_{1.85}Sr0.15_{0.15}CuO4_{4}

Impurity effects of Zn and Ni on the low-energy spin excitations were systematically studied in optimally doped La1.85Sr0.15Cu1-yAyO4 (A=Zn, Ni) by neutron scattering. Impurity-free La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 shows a spin gap of 4meV below Tc in the antiferromagnetic(AF) incommensurate spin excitation. In Zn:y=0.004, the spin excitation shows a spin gap of 3meV below Tc. In Zn:y=0.008 and Zn:y=0.011, however, the magnetic signals at 3meV decrease below Tc and increase again at lower temperature, indicating an in-gap state. In Zn:y=0.017, the low-energy spin state remains unchanged with decreasing temperature, and elastic magnetic peaks appear below 20K then exponentially increase. As for Ni:y=0.009 and Ni:y=0.018, the low-energy excitations below 3meV and 2meV disappear below Tc. The temperature dependence at 3meV, however, shows no upturn in constrast with Zn:y=0.008 and Zn:y=0.011, indicating the absence of in-gap state. In Ni:y=0.029, the magnetic signals were observed also at 0meV. Thus the spin gap closes with increasing Ni. Furthermore, as omega increases, the magnetic peak width broadens and the peak position, i.e. incommensurability, shifts toward the magnetic zone center (pi pi). We interpret the impurity effects as follows: Zn locally makes a non-superconducting island exhibiting the in-gap state in the superconducting sea with the spin gap. Zn reduces the superconducting volume fraction, thus suppressing Tc. On the other hand, Ni primarily affects the superconducting sea, and the spin excitations become more dispersive and broaden with increasing energy, which is recognized as a consequence of the reduction of energy scale of spin excitations. We believe that the reduction of energy scale is relevant to the suppression of Tc.Comment: 13pages, 14figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.