An ultradiscrete matrix version of the fourth Painleve equation

Abstract

We establish a matrix generalization of the ultradiscrete fourth Painlev\'e equation (ud-PIV). Well-defined multicomponent systems that permit ultradiscretization are obtained using an approach that relies on a group defined by constraints imposed by the requirement of a consistent evolution of the systems. The ultradiscrete limit of these systems yields coupled multicomponent ultradiscrete systems that generalize ud-PIV. The dynamics, irreducibility, and integrability of the matrix valued ultradiscrete systems are studied.