Most nonlinear differential equations arising in natural sciences admit chaotic behaviour and cannot be solved analytically. Integrable systems lie on the other extreme. They possess regular, stable, and well behaved solutions known as solitons and instantons. These solutions play important roles in pure and applied mathematics as well as in theoretical physics where they describe configurations topologically different from vacuum. While integrable equations in lower space-time dimensions can be solved using the inverse scattering transform, the higher-dimensional examples of anti-self-dual Yang-Mills and Einstein equations require twistor theory. Both techniques rely on an ability to represent nonlinear equations as compatibility conditions for overdetermined systems of linear differential equations. The book provides a self-contained and accessible introduction to the subject. It starts with an introduction to integrability of ordinary and partial differential equations. Subsequent chapters explore symmetry analysis, gauge theory, gravitational instantons, twistor transforms, and anti-self-duality equations. The three appendices cover basic differential geometry, complex manifold theory, and the exterior differential system.

About the Author
Maciej Dunajski read physics in Lodz, Poland and received a PhD in mathematics from Oxford University where he held a Senior Scholarship at Merton College. After spending four years as a lecturer in the Mathematical Institute in Oxford where he was a member of Roger Penrose's research group, he moved to Cambridge, where holds a Fellowship and lectureship at Clare College and a Newton Trust Lectureship at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Dunajski specialises in twistor theory and differential geometric approaches to integrability and solitons. He is married with two sons.

Reviews
My view is that the book is a success. I have no hesitation in recommending the book as a textbook/reference for advanced undergraduates (Mmath or other masters level), and for researchers as well. It is also very valuable as a crossover book: showing researchers in other disciplines how some of this new theory motivated by cosmology can be introduced into other areas such as fluid mechanics. * Professor Thomas J. Bridges, Contemporary Physics *
As an introduction to an exciting area of research, this book is excellent because it is not only accessible but self contained. A wonderful feature of the book is the clear and informative explanation of the topics and the wealth of examples. The presentation style of the book means that it is accessible to readers ranging from advanced undergraduates doing research to experts. It would be an excellent textbook for a course at the advanced undergraduate level or graduate level in either mathematics or physics. This book will become a standard on the subject. The typesetting of the book is very clean, with nicely sized fonts and clean uniform notation. It includes 35 illustrations which helpfully illustrated text. It is my pleasure to highly recommend it to anyone from an advanced undergraduate to a researcher in the fields covered. * Donald M Witt, Classical and Quantum Gravity *
While there are many exploratory texts on specific areas within the theory of integrable systems, the area has lacked a general introduction to the field. The current text takes its inspiration from mathematical physics and field theory...It does whet the reader's appetite and provides an excellent first taste of what can be savoured in detail in more advanced monographs. * Ian A. B. Strachan, Mathmatical Reviews, issue 211b *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198570639
Author Maciej Dunajski
Format Paperback
Page Count 376
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 21mm