by L A Dickey (University of Oklahoma, USA)

The theory of soliton equations and integrable systems has developed rapidly during the last 30 years with numerous applications in mechanics and physics. For a long time, books in this field have not been written but the flood of papers was overwhelming: many hundreds, maybe thousands of them. All this output followed one single work by Gardner, Green, Kruskal, and Mizura on the Korteweg-de Vries equation (KdV), which had seemed to be merely an unassuming equation of mathematical physics describing waves in shallow water.

Besides its obvious practical use, this theory is attractive also because it satisfies the aesthetic need in a beautiful formula which is so inherent to mathematics.

The second edition is up-to-date and differs from the first one considerably. One third of the book (five chapters) is completely new and the rest is refreshed and edited.

• Integrable Systems Generated by Linear Differential nth Order Operators
• Hamiltonian Structures
• Hamiltonian Structure of the GD Hierarchies
• Modified KdV and GD. The Kupershmidt–Wilson Theorem
• The KP Hierarchy
• Baker Function, τ-Function
• Additional Symmetries, String Equation
• Grassmannian. Algebraic-Geometrical Krichever Solutions
• Matrix First-Order Operator, AKNS-D Hierarchy
• Generalization of the AKNS-D Hierarchy: Single-Pole and Multi-Pole Matrix Hierarchies
• Isomonodromic Deformations and the Most General Matrix Hierarchy
• Tau Functions of Matrix Hierarchies
• KP, Modified KP, Constrained KP, Discrete KP, and q-KP
• Another Chain of KP Hierarchies and Integrals Over Matrix Varieties
• Transformational Properties of a Differential Operator under Diffeomorphisms and Classical W-Algebras
• Further Restrictions of the KP, Stationary Equations
• Stationary Equations of the Matrix Hierarchy
• Field Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalism
• Further Examples and Applications