Can the number of solutions to a system of PDEs be bounded using the characteristic variety?












6












$begingroup$


I've recently come across a system of PDEs which I'd like to understand better. The particular system I'm interested in locally solves for a 2-dimensional Riemannian metric as the Hessian of a potential function (which was addressed in a separate question). In that question, Robert Bryant noted that the characteristic variety consists of three points. Concretely, I'm wondering if this means that there are at most three solutions to this system of equations (perhaps modulo some affine transformations).



More generally, does the number of points in the characteristic variety bound the number of real analytic solutions for a given system of PDEs?



My understanding is that the characteristic variety gives something like the formal power series solutions to the system, so there shouldn't be more real analytic solutions than that. However, my knowledge of $D$-modules is really lacking, so I was wondering if anyone could either correct me on this or else point me to a good reference to learn more. I've been trying to read through Bryant's Exterior Differential Systems, and I apologize if this question is obvious for those who understand the theory.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might also want to look at the book Cartan for Beginners by Ivey and Landsberg. In general, the family of local solutions is infinite dimensional and one counts the number of solutions by parameterizing the space of solutions by how many functions (and how many inputs each function takes) uniquely determine a local solution. Also, it is impossible to do this count effectively for anything but a system of PDEs that is involutive (or "in involution").
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Also, there is a finite dimensional family of local solutions only if the system can be solved using the Frobenius theorem. In that case, the characteristic variety is empty.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    What about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @AliTaghavi, in general there is no connection without more information. Again, keep in mind that the codimension will also be infinite, so one has to count using functions, rather than numbers.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @DeaneYang What do you mean "Count using functions rather than numbers"? Do you mean a module consideration rather than vector space consideration?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    5 hours ago
















6












$begingroup$


I've recently come across a system of PDEs which I'd like to understand better. The particular system I'm interested in locally solves for a 2-dimensional Riemannian metric as the Hessian of a potential function (which was addressed in a separate question). In that question, Robert Bryant noted that the characteristic variety consists of three points. Concretely, I'm wondering if this means that there are at most three solutions to this system of equations (perhaps modulo some affine transformations).



More generally, does the number of points in the characteristic variety bound the number of real analytic solutions for a given system of PDEs?



My understanding is that the characteristic variety gives something like the formal power series solutions to the system, so there shouldn't be more real analytic solutions than that. However, my knowledge of $D$-modules is really lacking, so I was wondering if anyone could either correct me on this or else point me to a good reference to learn more. I've been trying to read through Bryant's Exterior Differential Systems, and I apologize if this question is obvious for those who understand the theory.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might also want to look at the book Cartan for Beginners by Ivey and Landsberg. In general, the family of local solutions is infinite dimensional and one counts the number of solutions by parameterizing the space of solutions by how many functions (and how many inputs each function takes) uniquely determine a local solution. Also, it is impossible to do this count effectively for anything but a system of PDEs that is involutive (or "in involution").
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Also, there is a finite dimensional family of local solutions only if the system can be solved using the Frobenius theorem. In that case, the characteristic variety is empty.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    What about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @AliTaghavi, in general there is no connection without more information. Again, keep in mind that the codimension will also be infinite, so one has to count using functions, rather than numbers.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @DeaneYang What do you mean "Count using functions rather than numbers"? Do you mean a module consideration rather than vector space consideration?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    5 hours ago














6












6








6


1



$begingroup$


I've recently come across a system of PDEs which I'd like to understand better. The particular system I'm interested in locally solves for a 2-dimensional Riemannian metric as the Hessian of a potential function (which was addressed in a separate question). In that question, Robert Bryant noted that the characteristic variety consists of three points. Concretely, I'm wondering if this means that there are at most three solutions to this system of equations (perhaps modulo some affine transformations).



More generally, does the number of points in the characteristic variety bound the number of real analytic solutions for a given system of PDEs?



My understanding is that the characteristic variety gives something like the formal power series solutions to the system, so there shouldn't be more real analytic solutions than that. However, my knowledge of $D$-modules is really lacking, so I was wondering if anyone could either correct me on this or else point me to a good reference to learn more. I've been trying to read through Bryant's Exterior Differential Systems, and I apologize if this question is obvious for those who understand the theory.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




I've recently come across a system of PDEs which I'd like to understand better. The particular system I'm interested in locally solves for a 2-dimensional Riemannian metric as the Hessian of a potential function (which was addressed in a separate question). In that question, Robert Bryant noted that the characteristic variety consists of three points. Concretely, I'm wondering if this means that there are at most three solutions to this system of equations (perhaps modulo some affine transformations).



More generally, does the number of points in the characteristic variety bound the number of real analytic solutions for a given system of PDEs?



My understanding is that the characteristic variety gives something like the formal power series solutions to the system, so there shouldn't be more real analytic solutions than that. However, my knowledge of $D$-modules is really lacking, so I was wondering if anyone could either correct me on this or else point me to a good reference to learn more. I've been trying to read through Bryant's Exterior Differential Systems, and I apologize if this question is obvious for those who understand the theory.







reference-request dg.differential-geometry ap.analysis-of-pdes differential-equations






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 14 hours ago









Ali Taghavi

18252085




18252085










asked 14 hours ago









Gabe KGabe K

898416




898416








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might also want to look at the book Cartan for Beginners by Ivey and Landsberg. In general, the family of local solutions is infinite dimensional and one counts the number of solutions by parameterizing the space of solutions by how many functions (and how many inputs each function takes) uniquely determine a local solution. Also, it is impossible to do this count effectively for anything but a system of PDEs that is involutive (or "in involution").
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Also, there is a finite dimensional family of local solutions only if the system can be solved using the Frobenius theorem. In that case, the characteristic variety is empty.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    What about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @AliTaghavi, in general there is no connection without more information. Again, keep in mind that the codimension will also be infinite, so one has to count using functions, rather than numbers.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @DeaneYang What do you mean "Count using functions rather than numbers"? Do you mean a module consideration rather than vector space consideration?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    5 hours ago














  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might also want to look at the book Cartan for Beginners by Ivey and Landsberg. In general, the family of local solutions is infinite dimensional and one counts the number of solutions by parameterizing the space of solutions by how many functions (and how many inputs each function takes) uniquely determine a local solution. Also, it is impossible to do this count effectively for anything but a system of PDEs that is involutive (or "in involution").
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Also, there is a finite dimensional family of local solutions only if the system can be solved using the Frobenius theorem. In that case, the characteristic variety is empty.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    What about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @AliTaghavi, in general there is no connection without more information. Again, keep in mind that the codimension will also be infinite, so one has to count using functions, rather than numbers.
    $endgroup$
    – Deane Yang
    11 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @DeaneYang What do you mean "Count using functions rather than numbers"? Do you mean a module consideration rather than vector space consideration?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    5 hours ago








2




2




$begingroup$
You might also want to look at the book Cartan for Beginners by Ivey and Landsberg. In general, the family of local solutions is infinite dimensional and one counts the number of solutions by parameterizing the space of solutions by how many functions (and how many inputs each function takes) uniquely determine a local solution. Also, it is impossible to do this count effectively for anything but a system of PDEs that is involutive (or "in involution").
$endgroup$
– Deane Yang
13 hours ago




$begingroup$
You might also want to look at the book Cartan for Beginners by Ivey and Landsberg. In general, the family of local solutions is infinite dimensional and one counts the number of solutions by parameterizing the space of solutions by how many functions (and how many inputs each function takes) uniquely determine a local solution. Also, it is impossible to do this count effectively for anything but a system of PDEs that is involutive (or "in involution").
$endgroup$
– Deane Yang
13 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
Also, there is a finite dimensional family of local solutions only if the system can be solved using the Frobenius theorem. In that case, the characteristic variety is empty.
$endgroup$
– Deane Yang
13 hours ago




$begingroup$
Also, there is a finite dimensional family of local solutions only if the system can be solved using the Frobenius theorem. In that case, the characteristic variety is empty.
$endgroup$
– Deane Yang
13 hours ago












$begingroup$
What about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
12 hours ago




$begingroup$
What about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
12 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
@AliTaghavi, in general there is no connection without more information. Again, keep in mind that the codimension will also be infinite, so one has to count using functions, rather than numbers.
$endgroup$
– Deane Yang
11 hours ago




$begingroup$
@AliTaghavi, in general there is no connection without more information. Again, keep in mind that the codimension will also be infinite, so one has to count using functions, rather than numbers.
$endgroup$
– Deane Yang
11 hours ago












$begingroup$
@DeaneYang What do you mean "Count using functions rather than numbers"? Do you mean a module consideration rather than vector space consideration?
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
@DeaneYang What do you mean "Count using functions rather than numbers"? Do you mean a module consideration rather than vector space consideration?
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
5 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















6












$begingroup$

The wave equation in the plane is $partial^2_x-partial^2_y=(partial_x+partial_y)(partial_x-partial_y)$, so two points in the characteristic variety, but infinite dimensional family of solutions.



Each isolated point in the characteristic variety represents a hypersurface foliation inside every sufficiently smooth solution, by a theorem of Ofer Gabber. For the wave equation, this is the foliation by the two directions spanned by the vector fields $partial_x+partial_y, partial_x-partial_y$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
    $endgroup$
    – Gabe K
    14 hours ago








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
    $endgroup$
    – Ben McKay
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    43 mins ago












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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









6












$begingroup$

The wave equation in the plane is $partial^2_x-partial^2_y=(partial_x+partial_y)(partial_x-partial_y)$, so two points in the characteristic variety, but infinite dimensional family of solutions.



Each isolated point in the characteristic variety represents a hypersurface foliation inside every sufficiently smooth solution, by a theorem of Ofer Gabber. For the wave equation, this is the foliation by the two directions spanned by the vector fields $partial_x+partial_y, partial_x-partial_y$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
    $endgroup$
    – Gabe K
    14 hours ago








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
    $endgroup$
    – Ben McKay
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    43 mins ago
















6












$begingroup$

The wave equation in the plane is $partial^2_x-partial^2_y=(partial_x+partial_y)(partial_x-partial_y)$, so two points in the characteristic variety, but infinite dimensional family of solutions.



Each isolated point in the characteristic variety represents a hypersurface foliation inside every sufficiently smooth solution, by a theorem of Ofer Gabber. For the wave equation, this is the foliation by the two directions spanned by the vector fields $partial_x+partial_y, partial_x-partial_y$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
    $endgroup$
    – Gabe K
    14 hours ago








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
    $endgroup$
    – Ben McKay
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    43 mins ago














6












6








6





$begingroup$

The wave equation in the plane is $partial^2_x-partial^2_y=(partial_x+partial_y)(partial_x-partial_y)$, so two points in the characteristic variety, but infinite dimensional family of solutions.



Each isolated point in the characteristic variety represents a hypersurface foliation inside every sufficiently smooth solution, by a theorem of Ofer Gabber. For the wave equation, this is the foliation by the two directions spanned by the vector fields $partial_x+partial_y, partial_x-partial_y$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$



The wave equation in the plane is $partial^2_x-partial^2_y=(partial_x+partial_y)(partial_x-partial_y)$, so two points in the characteristic variety, but infinite dimensional family of solutions.



Each isolated point in the characteristic variety represents a hypersurface foliation inside every sufficiently smooth solution, by a theorem of Ofer Gabber. For the wave equation, this is the foliation by the two directions spanned by the vector fields $partial_x+partial_y, partial_x-partial_y$.







share|cite|improve this answer














share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer








edited 13 hours ago









Joonas Ilmavirta

5,78352751




5,78352751










answered 14 hours ago









Ben McKayBen McKay

14.7k22961




14.7k22961








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
    $endgroup$
    – Gabe K
    14 hours ago








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
    $endgroup$
    – Ben McKay
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    43 mins ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
    $endgroup$
    – Gabe K
    14 hours ago








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
    $endgroup$
    – Ben McKay
    13 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    12 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
    $endgroup$
    – Ali Taghavi
    43 mins ago








1




1




$begingroup$
Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
$endgroup$
– Gabe K
14 hours ago






$begingroup$
Good to know. As a follow up question, the wave equation is linear whereas the system of interest is quite non-linear (at least in the non-flat case). At the risk of asking something obvious, does this example break down if we can't take linear combinations of solutions to get a solution?
$endgroup$
– Gabe K
14 hours ago






3




3




$begingroup$
The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
$endgroup$
– Ben McKay
13 hours ago




$begingroup$
The existence of the hypersurface foliation for each point in the characteristic variety does not break down for nonlinear equations. The characteristic direction in the cotangent bundle of any solution is null on the tangent vectors tangent to the leaves. But counting the number of solutions is not so clear, and depends on issues of involutivity.
$endgroup$
– Ben McKay
13 hours ago












$begingroup$
@BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
12 hours ago






$begingroup$
@BenMcKay what about a connection between the number of points in the characteristic variety and the Codimension of the range of diff operator associated to PDE?
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
12 hours ago














$begingroup$
@BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
43 mins ago




$begingroup$
@BenMcKay however the codimension of the range is closely related to the dim of kernel by consideration of adjoint PDE.
$endgroup$
– Ali Taghavi
43 mins ago


















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