What Is the Correct Formulation of the Lax Equation for i=1 in the KP Hierarchy?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the formulation of the Lax equation for i=1 in the KP hierarchy, specifically addressing the pseudo-differential operator defined as L = ∂ + Σ a_i(t_1, t_2, ...) ∂^{-i}. The participant highlights a critical inconsistency when i=1, noting that the left side of the equation contains a second-order operator ∂², while the commutator on the right lacks this term. This leads to the conclusion that the authors may have intended to reference i=2 or i=3 instead of i=1, as these indices are essential for deriving the KP equation.

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  • Understanding of pseudo-differential operators
  • Familiarity with the KP hierarchy and its equations
  • Knowledge of commutator algebra in the context of differential operators
  • Basic concepts of soliton theory as referenced in "Glimpses of Soliton Theory"
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nrqed
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The KP hierarchy is obtained the following way:

First we introduce the pseudo-differential operator
## L = \partial + \sum_{i=1}^\infty a_i(t_1,t_2 \ldots) \partial^{-i} ##

and then imposing the Lax equations

## \frac{\partial L}{\partial t_i} = [(L^i)_+,L] ##

for each i=1,2, etc (and where ##t_1\equiv x##).

(My source is Glimpses of Soliton theory, p.227).

My problem is that the Lax equation for i=1 does not make sense to me. If we set i=1, the left side contains the second order operator ##\partial^2## whereas in the commutator the ##\partial^2## cancel out, so there is no such term on the right. Maybe the authors made a mistake by saying that we must include i=1? I know that in order to recover the KP equation we use the equations for i=2 and i=3 but not i=1, so maybe thee is a typo and they really meant to consider i=2,3... ?
 

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