In this paper we aim to derive solutions for the SU(N) self-dual
Yang-Mills (SDYM) equation with arbitrary N. A set of
noncommutative relations are introduced to construct a matrix equation that can
be reduced to the SDYM equation. It is shown that these relations can be
generated from two different Sylvester equations, which correspond to the two
Cauchy matrix schemes for the (matrix) Kadomtsev-Petviashvili hierarchy and the
(matrix) Ablowitz-Kaup-Newell-Segur hierarchy, respectively. In each Cauchy
matrix scheme we investigate the possible reductions that can lead to the
SU(N) SDYM equation and also analyze the physical significance of
some solutions, i.e. being Hermitian, positive-definite and of determinant
being one.Comment: 26 page