Let U(ρ,τ,λ) and V(ρ,τ,λ) be matrix-valued functions. Consider the following system of overdetermined linear partial differential equations:
∂ρ∂ψ=Uψ,∂τ∂ψ=Vψ
where ψ is a column vector whose components depend on (ρ,τ,λ). Using the consistency condition of this system, derive the associated zero curvature representation (ZCR)
∂τ∂U−∂ρ∂V+[U,V]=0,
where [⋅,⋅] denotes the usual matrix commutator.
(i) Let
U=2i(2λ∂ρϕ∂ρϕ−2λ),V=4iλ1(cosϕisinϕ−isinϕ−cosϕ)
Find a partial differential equation for ϕ=ϕ(ρ,τ) which is equivalent to the ZCR(∗).
(ii) Assuming that U and V in (∗) do not depend on t:=ρ−τ, show that the trace of (U−V)p does not depend on x:=ρ+τ, where p is any positive integer. Use this fact to construct a first integral of the ordinary differential equation
ϕ′′=sinϕ, where ϕ=ϕ(x).