Reciprocal transformations and their role in the integrability and classification of PDEs

Abstract

Reciprocal transformations mix the role of the dependent and independent variables of (nonlinear partial) differential equations to achieve simpler versions or even linearized versions of them. These transformations help in the identification of a plethora of partial differential equations that are spread out in the physics and mathematics literature. Two different initial equations, although seemingly unrelated at first, could be the same equation after a reciprocal transformation. In this way, the big number of integrable equations that are spread out in the literature could be greatly diminished by establishing a method to discern which equations are disguised versions of a same, common underlying equation. Then, a question arises: Is there a way to identify different differential equations that are two different versions of a same equation in disguise?