Deformations of the Monge/Riemann hierarchy and approximately integrable systems

Abstract

Dispersive deformations of the Monge equation u_u=uu_x are studied using ideas originating from topological quantum field theory and the deformation quantization programme. It is shown that, to a high-order, the symmetries of the Monge equation may also be appropriately deformed, and that, if they exist at all orders, they are uniquely determined by the original deformation. This leads to either a new class of integrable systems or to a rigorous notion of an approximate integrable system. Quasi-Miura transformations are also constructed for such deformed equations.