Discrete equations from Bäcklund transformations of the fifth Painlevé equation

Abstract

In this paper discrete equations are derived from Bäcklund transformations of the fifth Painlevé equation, including a new discrete equation which has ternary symmetry. There are two classes of rational solutions of the fifth Painlevé equation, one expressed in terms of the generalised Laguerre polynomials and the other in terms of the generalised Umemura polynomials, both of which can be expressed as Wronskians of Laguerre polynomials. Hierarchies of rational solutions of the discrete equations are derived in terms of the generalised Laguerre and generalised Umemura polynomials. It is known that there is nonuniqueness of some rational solutions of the fifth Painlevé equation. Pairs of nonunique rational solutions are used to derive distinct hierarchies of rational solutions which satisfy the same discrete equation.