Gauge Symmetry Origin of B\"acklund Transformations for Painlev\'e Equations

Abstract

We identify the self-similarity limit of the second flow of $sl(N)$ mKdV hierarchy with the periodic dressing chain thus establishing % a connection to $A^{(1)}_{N-1}$ invariant Painlev\'e equations. The $A^{(1)}_{N-1}$ B\"acklund symmetries of dressing equations and Painlev\'e equations are obtained in the self-similarity limit of gauge transformations of the mKdV hierarchy realized as zero-curvature equations on the loop algebra $\widehat{sl}(N)$ endowed with a principal gradation.