Ricerc@Sapienza

Third order nonlinear evolution equations, that is the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV), modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equation and other ones are considered: they all are connected via Bäcklund transformations. These links can be depicted in a wide Bäcklund Chart which further extends the previous one constructed in [22]. In particular, the Bäcklund transformation which links the mKdV equation to the KdV singularity manifold equation is reconsidered and the nonlinear equation for the KdV eigenfunction is shown to be linked to all the equations in the previously constructed Bäcklund Chart.

Bäcklund transformations are applied to study the Gross–Pitaevskii equation. Supported by previous results, a class of Bäcklund transformations admitted by this equation are constructed. Schwarzian derivative as well as its invariance properties turn out to represent a key tool in the present investigation. Examples and explicit solutions of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation are obtained.