An integrable generalization of the Toda law to the square lattice

Abstract

We generalize the Toda lattice (or Toda chain) equation to the square lattice; i.e., we construct an integrable nonlinear equation, for a scalar field taking values on the square lattice and depending on a continuous (time) variable, characterized by an exponential law of interaction in both discrete directions of the square lattice. We construct the Darboux-Backlund transformations for such lattice, and the corresponding formulas describing their superposition. We finally use these Darboux-Backlund transformations to generate examples of explicit solutions of exponential and rational type. The exponential solutions describe the evolution of one and two smooth two-dimensional shock waves on the square lattice.