The Discrete Painlev\'e I Hierarchy

Abstract

The discrete Painlev\'e I equation (dP$\rm_I$) is an integrable difference equation which has the classical first Painlev\'e equation (P$\rm_I$) as a continuum limit. dP$\rm_I$ is believed to be integrable because it is the discrete isomonodromy condition for an associated (single-valued) linear problem. In this paper, we derive higher-order difference equations as isomonodromy conditions that are associated to the same linear deformation problem. These form a hierarchy that may be compared to hierarchies of integrable ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We strengthen this comparison by continuum limit calculations that lead to equations in the P$\rm_I$ hierarchy. We propose that our difference equations are discrete versions of higher-order Painlev\'e equations.