On the geometry of lambda-symmetries, and PDEs reduction

Abstract

We give a geometrical characterization of $λ$-prolongations of vector fields, and hence of $λ$-symmetries of ODEs. This allows an extension to the case of PDEs and systems of PDEs; in this context the central object is a horizontal one-form $μ$, and we speak of $μ$-prolongations of vector fields and $μ$-symmetries of PDEs. We show that these are as good as standard symmetries in providing symmetry reduction of PDEs and systems, and explicit invariant solutions.