Modified equations, rational solutions, and the Painlevé property for the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili and Hirota–Satsuma equations

Abstract

We propose a method for finding the Lax pairs and rational solutions of integrable partial differential equations. That is, when an equation possesses the Painlevé property, a Bäcklund transformation is defined in terms of an expansion about the singular manifold. This Bäcklund transformation obtains (1) a type of modified equation that is formulated in terms of Schwarzian derivatives and (2) a Miura transformation from the modified to the original equation. By linearizing the (Ricati-type) Miura transformation the Lax pair is found. On the other hand, consideration of the (distinct) Bäcklund transformations of the modified equations provides a method for the iterative construction of rational solutions. This also obtains the Lax pairs for the modified equations. In this paper we apply this method to the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation and the Hirota–Satsuma equations.