Square grid circle patterns with prescribed intersection angles, mimicking holomorphic maps $z^{\gamma }$ and ${\rm log}(z)$ are studied. It is shown that the corresponding circle patterns are embedded and described by special separatrix solutions of discrete Painlevé and Riccati equations. The general solution of this Riccati equation is expressed in terms of the hypergeometric function. Global properties of these solutions, as well as of the discrete $z^{\gamma }$ and ${\rm log}(z)$, are established.

We propose a differential-geometric classification of the four-component hyperbolic systems of conservation laws which satisfy the following properties: (a) they do not possess Riemann invariants; (b) they are linearly degenerate; (c) their rarefaction curves are rectilinear; (d) the cross-ratio of the four characteristic speeds is harmonic. This turns out to provide a classification of projective congruences in ${\mathbb P}^5$ whose developable surfaces are planar pencils of lines, each of these lines cutting the focal variety at points forming a harmonic quadruplet. Symmetry properties and the connection of these congruences to Cartan's isoparametric hypersurfaces are discussed.

The goal of this paper is to present a solution of the cellular automaton associated with the discrete KdV equation, using an algebro-geometric solution of the discrete KP equation over a finite field out of a hyperelliptic curve.

Two themes are considered in this paper. First of all in the Introduction a comment is made about the Tzitzéica equation which occurred in the author's work as reported in [1]. Much recent work has referred to this equation and a representative bibliography is given in this paper with brief comments. The second theme of this paper is concerned with work surrounding Quantum Solitons and the author's talk at the ISLAND 2 meeting under the title ‘Quantum solitons’ is briefly summarised. An extended review of this subject matter has now appeared in [2] and as there the quantum soliton of the quantum attractive NLS model is seen as a ‘qubit’ for quantum information purposes. It is hoped that this summary and/or the reference [2] can help to stimulate further interest in this ‘quantum’ aspect of our subject in the solitons community. The actual observation of a quantum soliton is also reported and a proper theoretical description of it given. Reference is made to $q$-boson lattices first as a simple example of the quantum inverse method in the Introduction and then as a subject matter in its own right at the end of the paper.

The main goal of the paper is to find the discrete analogue of the Bianchi system in spaces of arbitrary dimension together with its geometric interpretation. We show that the proper geometric framework for such generalization is the language of dual quadrilateral lattices and of dual congruences. After introducing the notion of the dual Koenigs lattice in a projective space of arbitrary dimension, we define the discrete dual congruences and we present, as an important example, the normal dual discrete congruences. Finally, we introduce the dual Bianchi lattice as a dual Koenigs lattice allowing for a conjugate normal dual congruence, and we find its characterization in terms of a system of integrable difference equations.

We consider a class of deformations of Laplace-Beltrami operators on flat and constant curvature spaces, which possess a family of commuting operators. These are built as deformations of the symmetries of the underlying geometric space. In flat spaces it is also possible to extend some symmetries into ladder operators. In all cases it is possible to choose sub-classes which are super-integrable.

The trilinear form of the discrete Tzitzeica equation by Schief is found to be a discrete Toda molecule equation with a special boundary condition. Based on this fact, a higher order discrete Tzitzeica equation and an ultradiscrete Tzitzeica equation are obtained.

The method of ultradiscrete limit is applied to a series of discrete systems derived from Hamiltonian systems parametrized with corresponding lattice polygons. For every ultradiscrete system, general solution is obtained from the polar set of each lattice polygon.

The hierarchy structure of a derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation is investigated in terms of the Sato-Segal-Wilson formulation. Special solutions are constructed as ratios of Wronski determinants. Relations to the Painlevé IV and the discrete Painlevé I are discussed by applying a similarity reduction.

A construction of differential constraints compatible with the Gibbons-Tsarev equation is considered. Certain linear determining equations with parameters are used to find such differential constraints. They generalize the classical determining equations that are used in searching for Lie operators. We introduce the notion of an invariant solution under an involutive distribution and give sufficient conditions for existence of such solutions.

The conformal geometry of the Schwarzian Davey-Stewartson II hierarchy and its discrete analogue is investigated. Connections with discrete and continuous isothermic surfaces and generalised Clifford configurations are recorded. An interpretation of the Schwarzian Davey-Stewartson II flows as integrable deformations of conformally immersed surfaces is given.

We present some basic properties of two distinguished discretizations of elliptic operators: the self-adjoint 5-point and 7-point schemes on a two dimensional lattice. We first show that they allow us to solve Dirichlet boundary value problems; then we present their Moutard transformations (distinguished examples of transformation of Darboux type in two dimensions). Finally we construct their Lelieuvre formulae and we show that, at the level of the normal vector and in full analogy with their continuous counterparts, the self-adjoint 5-point scheme characterizes a two dimensional quadrilateral lattice (a lattice whose elementary quadrilaterals are planar), while the self-adjoint 7-point scheme characterizes a generic 2D lattice.

We consider a special class of solutions of the BKP hierarchy which we call $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type. These are series in Schur $Q$-functions over partitions, with coefficients parameterised by a function of one variable $\xi$, where the quantities $\xi(k)$, $k\in\mathbb{Z^+}$, are integrals of motion of the BKP hierarchy. We show that this solution is, at the same time, a infinite soliton solution of a dual BKP hierarchy, where the variables $\xi(k)$ are now related to BKP higher times. In particular, rational solutions of the BKP hierarchy are related to (finite) multi-soliton solution of the dual BKP hierarchy. The momenta of the solitons are given by the parts of partitions in the Schur $Q$-function expansion of the $\tau$-function of hypergeometric type. We also show that the KdV and the NLS soliton $\tau$-functions coinside the BKP $\tau$-functions of hypergeometric type, evaluated at special point of BKP higher time; the variables $\xi$ (which are BKP integrals of motions) being related to KdV and NLS higher times.

A $q$-discrete analog of the Toda molecule equation and its $N$-soliton solution are constructed by using the bilinear method. The solution is expressed in the Casorati determinant form whose elements are given in terms of the $q$-orthogonal polynomials.

We extend a solution method used for the one-dimensional Toda lattice in [1], [2] to the two-dimensional Toda lattice. The idea is

1. to study the lattice not with values in $\mathbb{C}$ but in the Banach algebra ${\cal L}$ of bounded operators and

2. to derive solutions of the original lattice ($\mathbb{C}$-solutions) by applying a functional $\tau$ to the ${\cal L}$-solutions constructed in 1.

In the second part we focus on applications. We start by rederiving line-solitons and briefly discuss discrete resonance phenomena. Moreover, we are able to find conditions under which it is possible to superpose even countably many line-solitons.

A closer look at Laguerre and Meixner polynomials shows that they interact, with a more active role played by the latter. We intend here to expound on this development of the story up to some level of abstraction.

A number theoretical aspect of the fundamental cycle of a periodic box-ball system is investigated. Using the formulae for the fundamental cycle of a class of initial states, we point out that the asymptotic behaviour of the fundamental cycle is closely related to the celebrated Riemann hypothesis.

We consider the discrete Boussinesq integrable system and the compatible set of differential difference, and partial differential equations. The latter not only encode the complete hierarchy of the Boussinesq equation, but also incorporate the hyperbolic Ernst equations for an Einstein-Maxwell-Weyl field in general relativity. We demonstrate a specific symmetry reduction of the partial differential equations, to a six-parameter, second order coupled system of ordinary differential equations, which is conjectured to be of Garnier type.

Extending the so called coupled KP hierarchy to negative time flows one obtains coupled Toda-type equations defined on a two-dimensional lattice. These equations allow for reductions to 1+1 dimensional integrable systems that are defined on a finite part of this lattice. A system of coupled Hirota bilinear equations, obtained from such a reduction and defined on only 5 points of the lattice, will be shown to correspond to a coupling of a Tzitzeica equation to two linear equations. The Lax representation of this system is also presented.