Symmetry, full symmetry groups, and some exact solutions to a generalized Davey–Stewartson system

Abstract

The Lie symmetry algebra of a generalized Davey–Stewartson (GDS) system is obtained. The general element of this algebra depends on eight arbitrary functions of time, which has a Kac–Moody–Virasoro loop algebra structure and is isomorphic to that of the standard integrable Davey–Stewartson equations under certain conditions imposed on parameters and arbitrary functions. Then based on the symmetry group direct method proposed by Lou and Ma [J. Phys. A 38, L129 (2005)] the full symmetry groups of the GDS system are obtained. From the full symmetry groups, both the Lie symmetry group and a group of discrete transformations can be obtained. Finally, some exact solutions involving sech-sech2-sech2 and tanh-tanh2-tanh2 type solitary wave solutions are presented by a generalized subequation expansion method.