Bihamiltonian Geometry, Darboux Coverings, and Linearization of the KP Hierarchy

We use ideas of the geometry of bihamiltonian manifolds, developed by Gel'fand and Zakharevich, to study the KP equations. In this approach they have the form of local conservation laws, and can be traded for a system of ordinary differential equations of Riccati type, which we call the Central System. We show that the latter can be linearized by means of a Darboux covering, and we use this procedure as an alternative technique to construct rational solutions of the KP equations.Comment: Latex, 27 pages. To appear in Commun. Math. Phy

On the lifting and approximation theorem for nonsmooth vector fields

We prove a version of Rothschild-Stein's theorem of lifting and approximation and some related results in the context of nonsmooth Hormander's vector fields for which the highest order commutators are only Holder continuous. The theory explicitly covers the case of one vector field having weight two while the others have weight one.Comment: 46 pages, LaTeX. Minor changes in Section

Bi-Hamiltonian Aspects of a Matrix Harry Dym Hierarchy

We study the Harry Dym hierarchy of nonlinear evolution equations from the bi-Hamiltonian view point. This is done by using the concept of an S-hierarchy. It allows us to define a matrix Harry Dym hierarchy of commuting Hamiltonian flows in two fields that projects onto the scalar Harry Dym hierarchy. We also show that the conserved densities of the matrix Harry Dym equation can be found by means of a Riccati-type equation.Comment: Revised version, 22 pages; a section on reciprocal transformations added. To appear in J. Math. Phys