Multidimensional inverse scattering of integrable lattice equations

Abstract

We present a discrete inverse scattering transform for all ABS equations excluding Q4. The nonlinear partial difference equations presented in the ABS hierarchy represent a comprehensive class of scalar affine-linear lattice equations which possess the multidimensional consistency property. Due to this property it is natural to consider these equations living in an N-dimensional lattice, where the solutions depend on N distinct independent variables and associated parameters. The direct scattering procedure, which is one-dimensional, is carried out along a staircase within this multidimensional lattice. The solutions obtained are dependent on all N lattice variables and parameters. We further show that the soliton solutions derived from the Cauchy matrix approach are exactly the solutions obtained from reflectionless potentials, and we give a short discussion on solutions of some previously known lattice equations, such as the lattice KdV equation.