Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics 1998, V.5, N 1, 1–7.

Letter

On the Moyal Quantized BKP Type Hierarchies

Dolan Chapa SEN and A. Roy CHOWDHURY

High Energy Physics Division, Department of Physics Jadavpur University,

Calcutta 700 032, India
arXiv:math-ph/9801205v1 1 Jan 1998

Received June 30, 1997; Accepted July 17, 1997

Abstract
Quantization of BKP type equations are done through the Moyal bracket and the
formalism of pseudo-differential operators. It is shown that a variant of the dressing
operator can also be constructed for such quantized systems.

Quantization of integrable system is one of the most important aspect of present day
research on nonlinear systems. In two dimensions, a well established methodology was
suggested by Faddeev and his collaborators [1], which goes by the name of Quntum In-
verse Spectral Transform (QISM) [1]. On the other hand, no such technique is known
(which utililes the inverse scattering framework) for integrable systems in three dimen-
sions. Recently the formalism of pseudo-differential operators was used extensively to
study such systems in 3 (three) dimensions [2] and an effective way was found to study
the Bi-Hamiltonian structures of such three dimensional systems. An ingeneous way to
derive the quantum version for the KP system was suggested by Kupershmidt [3] using
the tools of p pseudo-differential algebra in conjuction with the idea of the Moyal bracket
[4]. The basic idea is that the quantization is a deformation of the classical situation.
Here, in this communication, we study a quantization of the BKP like hierarchy [5] using
the Moyal bracket approach. It is demonstrated that such systems can possess an infinite
number of conservation laws; essential for the complete integrability. Furthermore, we
also show that an extension of the usual dressing operator [6] is possible even for these
quantized or deformed systems.
A quantization is a rule which assigns to every polynomial in variables p and q, a
polynomial in operators p and q. The rule must be a linear map satisfying a few natural
properties.
For any two operators f and g depending upon the canonical set of variables (pi , qi ),
the Moyal quantization dictates that the product be defined according to the following
rule:
" !#
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
f ∗ g = exp ε − (f g), (1)
∂pf ∂qg ∂qf ∂pg

Copyright c 1998 by D.C. Sen and A.R.

Chowdhury
2 D.C. Sen and A.R. Chowdhury

where the operator:

∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
v= − (2)
∂pf ∂qg ∂qf ∂pg
acts according to the rule
∂f ∂g ∂f ∂
v(f g) = − . (3)
∂p ∂q ∂q ∂p
For our situtation, f and g are some pseudo-differential operators. Before proceeding to
the actual problem of the quantized BKP equation, we give below some algebraic formulae
which will be useful later.
Using equation (1) we get
!
i
i
εs a(s) pi−s ,
X
p ∗a=
s=0
s
!
i
i
(−ε)s a(s) pi−s ,
X
a∗p =
s=0
s
!
i
εs a(s) bpi−s ,
X
i
bp ∗ a =
s=0
s
! (4)
i
εs a(s) pi+m−s ,
X
i m
p ∗ ap =
s=0
s
!
i
(−ε)s a(s) pi+m−s ,
X
m i
ap ∗ p =
s=0
s
! ! !
X εs s i m
i
bp ∗ ap m
= (s − k) k(−1)k b(k) a(s−k) pi+m−s .
s k s−k k
s,k=0

Here a(k) = ∂ k a. etc., a, b are any two arbitrary functions of q only, and ∂ k represents
k-th order derivative with respect to q, that is ∂ k /∂q k . The Moyal commutator is defined
as:
[f, g] = f ∗ g − g ∗ f. (5)
For example, it can be easily seen that equation (4) leads to
!
i
a2k+1 a(2k+1) pi−2k−1 ,
X
i
[p , a] = 2
2k + 1
k=0 ! (6)
i
X i 2k+1 (2k+1) i−2k−1
[bp , a] = 2 ε a bp ,
2k + 1
k=0

and similarly for others. !

c
In the above expressions denotes a Binomial coefficient with the following usefull
d
properties:
 !
 i + 2k
, when k0 = 2k
! 
2k

−i − 1 
= ! (7)
k0  i + 2k + 1
(−1) , when k0 = 2k + 1.


2k + 1

Moyal Quantized BKP Type Hierarchies 3

For positive values c, d these are

c!
.
d!(c − d)!

The standart pseudo-differential operator (ΨDO) is written as:

X
L=∂+ am ∂ −m , (8)
m=1

where am are functions of (x, y and t). In the following we shall rewrite L as
X
L=p+ am p−m . (9)
m=1

The deformed or quantized hierarchy of equations are to be obtained from the Lax equa-
tion:

Lt = [P+ , L] = P+ ∗ L − L ∗ P+ . (10)

Here P+ = [Lm ]+ , where m is any positive integer and (+) denotes the only terms with
positive powers to be retained. One must also note that

Lm = L ∗ L ∗ L ∗ L ∗ · · · ∗ L (m times). (11)

For the construction of integrable systems, the time flows can be easily build up with
the help of equation (11). For example,
! !
X X
∗p −m −l
L = p+ am p ∗ p+ al p
m=1 l=1 ! ! (12)
2 −m −i (s−k) −m−i−s
a(k)
X X
−m+1 s k
=p +2 am p + ε (−1) m ai p
m
s−k k
s,k

or
L∗2 = p2 + 2a1 + 2a2 p−1 + · · ·
(2)
L∗3 = p3 + 3a1 p + 3a2 + (3a3 + 3a21 + ε2 a1 )p−1 + · · ·
(2)
L∗4 = p4 + 4a1 p2 + 4a2 p + (4a3 + 6a21 + ε2 4a1 )
(2)
+ (4a4 + 12a1 a2 + 4ε2 a2 )p−1 + · · ·
(13)
(2)
L∗5 = p5 + 5a1 p3 + 5a2 p2 + (5a3 + 10a21 + 10ε2 a2 )p
(2)
+ (5a4 + 20a1 a2 + 10ε2 a2 )
(1) (1) (1)
h
+ 5a5 + 20a1 a3 + 10a22 + 10a31 + ε(8a4 + 24a1 a2 + 24a2 a1 )
(2) (2) (1) (1) (3) (4)
i
+ ε2 (10a3 + 20a1 a1 + 10a1 a1 ) + ε3 8a2 + ε4 a1 p−1 + · · · .

The quantized BKP system is then defined through the Lax equations
∂L ∂L
= [L3+ , L]∗ , = [L5+ , L]∗ . (14)
∂y ∂t
4 D.C. Sen and A.R. Chowdhury

Using the above expressions we immediately get:

(1) (1) (3)
a1y = ε(6a3 + 12a1 a1 ) + 2ε3 a1 ,
(1) (1) (1) (3)
a2y = ε(6a4 + 12a1 a2 + 12a1 a2 ) + 2ε3 a2 ,
(1) (3) (1) (1)
a3y = ε(6a5 + 6a1 a3 + 18a1 a3 + 12a2 a2 )
(15)
(3) (3) (2) (1)
+ ε3 (2a3 + 6a1 a1 + 6a1 a1 ),
(1) (1) (1) (1)
a4y = (6a6 + 6a1 a4 + 24a1 a4 + 18a2 a3 )
(3) (2) (1) (3) (3)
+ ε3 (2a4 + 18a1 a2 + 24a1 a2 + 6a1 a2 ).
Similar equations for time evolution. Actually, (14) leads to an infinite set of coupled
nonlinear equations in 3 dimensions. To restrict it to a BKP hierarchy we impose the
constraint that (L∗ )2n+1
+ will not contain any constant level term. Whence we get a2 =
a4 = 0, along with
(1) (1) (1) (3) (3) (2) (1)
a3y = ε(6a5 + 6a1 a3 + 18a1 a3 ) + ε3 (2a3 + 6a1 a1 + 6a1 a1 ), (16)
(5) (3) (3) (2) (1)
a1t = 2ε5 a1 + ε3 (20a3 + 40a1 a1 + 80a1 a1
(1) (1) (1) (1)
(17)
+ ε(10a5 + 40a3 a1 + 40a3 a1 + 60a21 a1 ).

By eliminating a3 and a5 we obtain

32 40 (3) 100 (1) (2) 20 (2)
 
(5)
a1t = − ε5 a1 + ε3 − a1 a1 − a1 a1 + ε2 a1y
9 3 3 9 (18)
2 (1) 5 (1) −1 5 −1
− 10εa1 a1 + (a1 a1y + a1 ∂ a1y ) + ∂ a1y ,
3 18ε
which is the required nonlinear equation in (2+1)-dimensions for a1 (xyt). One can observe
that this equation is also fifth order in derivative with respect to x as in the case of the
usual BKP system.
It is possible to generate other types of nonlinear system from different choices of y
and t flows in equation (14). For example, consider
∂L
= [L∗2 , L]∗ ,
∂y
(19)
∂L
= [L∗5 , L]∗ ,
∂t
where equations (15) are modified to:
(1)
a1y = 4εa2 ,
(1) (1)
a2y = 4εa3 + 4εa1 a1 ,
(1) (1) (20)
a3y = 4εa4 + 8εa1 a2 ,
(1) (1) (3)
a4y = 4εa5 + 12εa1 a3 + 4ε3 a1 a1
along with
(5) (3) (3) (2) (1)
a1t = 2ε5 a1 + ε3 (20a3 + 40a1 a1 + 80a1 a1 )
(21)
(1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
+ ε(10a5 + 40a3 a1 + 30a3 a1 + 40a2 a2 + 60a21 a1 ).
Moyal Quantized BKP Type Hierarchies 5

It is interesting to note that one can eliminate all the variables other than a1 , without
2n+1
imposing any extra condition on L+ , since equation (20) yields:
1 −1
a2 = ∂ a1y ,
4ε
1 −2 1
a3 = ∂ a1yy − a21 , (22)
16ε2 2
1 (1)
a4 = ∂ −1 a3y − 2∂ −1 (a1 a2 ).
4ε
Thus, from (21) we at once obtain
5 (1)
 
(5) (3) (1) (2) (1)
h i
a1t = 2ε5 a1 + ε3 10a1 a1 + 20a1 a1 + ε 15a21 a1 + a1yy
4
5 h −1 (1)
i
+ 3∂ (a1y a1y + a1y a1yy ) + 2a1y ∂ −1 a1y − 3a1 ∂ −2 a1yy + 4a1 ∂ −1 a1yy (23)
8ε
5
− ∂ −3 a14y .
128ε3
It each case, as in the case of usual ΨDO approach, the conserved quantities are obtained
as Res.(L2n+1 ), where Res denote the coefficient of p−1 . We have checked that such
residues turn out to be combinations of total derivatives with respect to (x, y, t).
We now report on intriguing fact about such Moyal quantized systems. This is related
to the so-called modified system. In an interesting paper it was observed by Kupershmidt
that modified equations can be generated if one uses
dL
= [(Lm )≥1 , L] (24)
dt
instead of (Lm )≥0 . (In some cases one can also consider (Lm )≥2 .) Here we observe that,
if we consider
∂L ∂L
= [L3≥1 , L]∗ , = [L5≥1 , L]∗ , (25)
∂y ∂t
and using
(L3 )≥1 = p3 + 3a1 p,
(2)
(26)
(L∗5 )≥1 = p5 + 5a1 p3 + 5a2 p2 + (5a3 + 10a21 + ε2 10a1 )p
in these equations, we get
(1)
a2 = 0,
(1) (1) (3)
a1y = 6εa3 + 12εa1 a1 + 2ε3 a1 ,
(1) (2) (27)
a2y = 6εa4 + 12εa2 a1 ,
(1) (1) (1) (3) (3) (1) (2)
a3y = 6εa5 + 6εa1 a3 + 18εa1 a3 + ε3 (2a3 + 6a1 a1 + 6a1 a1 )
alongwith
(5) (3) (3) (1) (2)
a1t = 2ε5 a1 + ε3 (20a3 + 40a1 a1 + 80a1 a1 )
(1) (1) (1) (1)
+ ε(40a1 a3 + 40a1 a3 ) + 60a24 a1 + 10a5 .
6 D.C. Sen and A.R. Chowdhury

Again eliminating variables other than a1 , we get

(5) (3) (3) (2) (1)
a1t = 2ε5 a1 + ε3 (20a3 + 40a1 a1 + 80a1 a1 )
(28)
(1) (1) (1) (1)
+ ε(40a1 a3 + 40a1 a3 + 60a21 a1 + 10a5 ).
So we get back equation (21), but this time without any restriction on the constant level
term of (L∗ )2n+1 .
From the structure of the nonlinear equations discuseed so far, it appears that one can
define an analogue of a dressing operator even in the Moyal quantized systems.
Let us set
∞
X
s=1+ ωm p−m (29)
m=1

for the deressing operator. Now

∞
X
s−1 = 1 + um p−m , (30)
m=1

with s + s−1 = 1, leads to

! !
−m −j (k) (s−k) −m−js
(um + ωm )p−m + εs (−1)k ωm uj p = 0, (31)
j−k k
from which one can express the u’s in terms of the ω’s. For example,
u1 = −ω1 ,
u2 = −ω2 + ω12 , (32)
u2 = −ω3 − ω12 + 2ω1 ω2 , . . . , etc.
Now we demand that
X
s ∗ p ∗ s−1 = L = p + am p−m , (33)
m=1

which immediately leads to

(1)
a1 = −2εω1 ,
(1) (1)
a2 = ε(−2ω2 + 2ω1 ω1 ),
(34)
a3 = u4 + ω4 + ω1 u3 + ω2 u2 + ω3 u1
(1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
+ ε(u3 − ω3 + ω1 u2 − ω2 u1 ) + ε2 ω1 u1 , . . . , etc.
On the other hand, if we compute s ∗ p3 ∗ s−1 and s ∗ p5 ∗ s−1 via the rules (4), we get
! !
3 3
X X
−1 −m −l
s∗p ∗s = 1+ ωm p ∗p ∗ 1+ ul p
m l (35)
(1) (1)
= p3 + (ω1 + u1 )p2 + (u2 + ω2 + ω1 u1 + 3εu1 − 3εω1 )p + ··· .
Whence, using equations (32) and (34), we get
(1) (1)
(s ∗ p3 ∗ s−1 )+ = p3 + 3a1 p + (3εu2 − 3εω2 )
= p3 + 3a1 p + 3a2 (36)
= L3 (as given in equation (13)).
Moyal Quantized BKP Type Hierarchies 7

Using the same methodology, but with a more laborious computation, we can prove
that
(2)
(s ∗ p5 ∗ s−1 )+ = p5 + 5a1 p3 + 5a2 p2 + (5a3 + 10a21 + 10a21 a1 )p
(2) (37)
+ (5a4 + 20a1 a2 + 10ε2 a2 ).

In the above analysis we have shown that nonlinear systems in (2+1)-dimensions, which
are in the category of the BKP equation, can be quantized using the pseudo-differential
operators and Moyal bracket formalism. They are completely integrable since there are
an infinite number of conserved quantities with them.
One of the authors (D.C. Sen) is gratefull to CSIR (Govt. of India) for suppport though
a SRF grant.

References
[1] Faddeev L.D. and Takhtajn L.A., Russ. Math. Survey, 1979, V.34, p.11.

[2] Kupershmidt B.A., Rev. Asterrisque, 1985, V.123, Paris.

[3] Kupershmidt B.A., Lett. Math. Phys., 1990, V.20, p.19.

[4] Moyal J.E., Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc., 1949, V.45, p.99.

[5] Grosh C. and Chowdhury A.R., J. Phys. Soc. Japan, 1993, V.62, p.851.

[6] Sato M. and Sato Y., Soliton Equations and Dynamical Systems on Infinite Dimensional Grossmanian
Manifold – Nonlinear PDE in App. Math, North Holland, 1982.