Folding transformations for q-Painleve equations

Abstract

Folding transformation of the Painlev\'e equations is an algebraic (of degree greater than 1) transformation between solutions of different equations. In 2005 Tsuda, Okamoto and Sakai classified folding transformations of differential Painlev\'e equations. These transformations are in correspondence with automorphisms of affine Dynkin diagrams. We give a complete classification of folding transformations of the $q$-difference Painlev\'e equations, these transformations are in correspondence with certain subdiagrams of the affine Dynkin diagrams (possibly with automorphism). The method is based on Sakai's approach to Painlev\'e equations through rational surfaces.