Elementary Bäcklund transformations for a discrete Ablowitz–Ladik eigenvalue problem

Abstract

Elementary Backlund transformations (BTs) are described for a discretization of the Zakharov-Shabat eigenvalue problem (a special case of the Ablowitz-Ladik eigenvalue problem). Elementary BTs allow the process of adding bound states to a system (i.e., the add-one-soliton BT) to be 'factorized' to solving two simpler sub-problems. They are used to determine the effect on the scattering data when bound states are added. They are shown to provide a method of calculating discrete solitons-this is achieved by constructing a lattice of intermediate potentials, with the parameters used in the calculation of the lattice simply related to the soliton scattering data. When the potentials, S n , T n , in the system are related by S n = -T n , they enable simple derivations to be obtained of the add-one-soliton BT and the nonlinear superposition formula.