Discrete local induction equation

Abstract

The local induction equation, or the binormal flow on space curves is a well-known model of deformation of space curves as it describes the dynamics of vortex filaments, and the complex curvature is governed by the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation. In this paper, we present its discrete analogue, namely, a model of deformation of discrete space curves by the discrete nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation. We also present explicit formulas for both smooth and discrete curves in terms of $\tau$ functions of the two-component KP hierarchy.