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Using Monge-Amp\`ere geometry, we study the singular structure of a class of nonlinear Monge-Amp\`ere equations in three dimensions, arising in geophysical fluid dynamics. We extend seminal earlier work on Monge-Amp\`ere geometry by examining the role of an induced metric on Lagrangian submanifolds of the cotangent bundle. In particular, we show that the signature of the metric serves as a classification of the Monge-Amp\`ere equation, while singularities and elliptic-hyperbolic transitions are revealed by the degeneracies of the metric. The theory is illustrated by application to an example solution of the semigeostrophic equations., Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures

The behavior of a class of solutions of the shallow water Airy system originating from initial data with discontinuous derivatives is considered. Initial data are obtained by splicing together self-similar parabolae with a constant background state. These solutions are shown to develop velocity and surface gradient catastrophes in finite time and the inherent persistence of dry spots is shown to be terminated by the collapse of the parabolic core. All details of the evolution can be obtained in closed form until the collapse time, thanks to formation of simple waves that sandwich the evolving self-similar core. The continuation of solutions asymptotically for short times beyond the collapse is then investigated analytically, in its weak form, with an approach using stretched coordinates inspired by singular perturbation theory. This approach allows to follow the evolution after collapse by implementing a spectrally accurate numerical code, which is developed alongside a classical shock-capturing scheme for accuracy comparison. The codes are validated on special classes of initial data, in increasing order of complexity, to illustrate the evolution of the dry spot initial conditions on longer time scales past collapse., 28 pages 14 figures

We study the Boussinesq hierarchy in the geometric context of the theory of bi-Hamiltonian manifolds. First, we recall how its bi-Hamiltonian structure can be obtained by means of a process called bi-Hamiltonian reduction, choosing a specific symplectic leaf S of one of the two Poisson structures. Then, we introduce the notion of a bi-Hamiltonian S-hierarchy, that is, a bi-Hamiltonian hierarchy that is defined only at the points of the symplectic leaf S, and we show that the Boussinesq hierarchy can be interpreted as the reduction of a bi-Hamiltonian S-hierarchy.

The theory of three-layer density-stratified ideal fluids is examined with a view toward its generalization to the n-layer case. The focus is on structural properties, especially for the case of a rigid upper lid constraint. We show that the long-wave dispersionless limit is a system of quasi-linear equations that do not admit Riemann invariants. We equip the layer-averaged one-dimensional model with a natural Hamiltonian structure, obtained with a suitable reduction process from the continuous density stratification structure of the full two-dimensional equations proposed by Benjamin. For a laterally unbounded fluid between horizontal rigid boundaries, the paradox about the non-conservation of horizontal total momentum is revisited, and it is shown that the pressure imbalances causing it can be intensified by three-layer setups with respect to their two-layer counterparts. The generator of the x-translational symmetry in the n-layer setup is also identified by the appropriate Hamiltonian formalism. The Boussinesq limit and a family of special solutions recently introduced by de Melo Viríssimo and Milewski are also discussed.

The C-H-O-N-S elements that constitute the outgassed atmosphere and exosphere have likely been delivered by chondritic materials to the Earth during planetary accretion and subsequently processed over billions of years of planetary differentiation. Although these elements are generally considered to be volatile, a large part of the accreted C-H-O-N-S on Earth must have been sequestered in the core and mantle, with the remaining part concentrated at the Earth’s surface (exosphere: $\text{atmosphere} + \text{ocean} + \text{crust}$ ). The likely reason for this is that, depending on the prevailing pressure (P), temperature (T) and oxidation state (oxygen fugacity, fO2) in the planet’s interior, the C-H-O-N-S elements can behave as siderophile, lithophile, refractory, magmatophile, or atmophile. It is not clear if these elements might be sequestered in the interiors of planets elsewhere, since the governing parameters of P-T-fO2 during the diverse magmatic processes controlling magmatic differentiation vary greatly over time and from planet to planet. The magma ocean outgassed the first atmosphere, which was probably also the largest in terms of mass, but its nature and composition remain poorly known. Meanwhile, a significant, but unknown, part of the accreted C-H-O-N-S elements was sequestered in the core. These will probably never be liberated into the atmosphere. A secondary atmosphere was then fuelled by volcanism, driven by mantle convection and most likely enhanced by plate tectonics. The Earth still has active volcanism, and the volume and volatile contents of its magma are closely linked to geodynamics. Earth’s volcanoes have long emitted relatively oxidized gases, in contrast to Mars and Mercury. Mantle oxidation state seems to increase with planetary size, although the role of plate tectonics in changing the Earth’s mantle oxidation state remains poorly understood. Water contents of magma from elsewhere in the solar system are not so different from those produced by the Earth’s depleted mantle. Other elements (e.g. N, S, C) are unevenly distributed. A great diversity of speciation and quantity of magmatic gas emitted is found in planetary systems, with the key inputs being: 1 – degassing of the magma ocean, 2 – mantle oxidation state (and its evolution), and 3 – plate tectonics (vs. other styles of mantle convection). Many other parameters can affect these three inputs, of which planetary size is probably one of the most important.

By following the ideas presented by Fukumoto and Miyajima in Fukumoto and Miyajima (1996) we derive a generalized method for constructing integrable nonlocal equations starting from any bi-Hamiltonian hierarchy supplied with a recursion operator. This construction provides the right framework for the application of the full machinery of the inverse scattering transform. We pay attention to the Pohlmeyer–Lund–Regge equation coming from the nonlinear Schrodinger hierarchy and construct the formula for the reflectionless potential solutions which are generalizations of multi-solitons. Some explicit examples are discussed.

The classical dam-break problem for the shallow water system with a dry/vacuum downstream state is revisited in the context of exact solutions which generalize the Riemann setup of a Heaviside jump between constant states to continuous initial data. Two main setups are considered, chosen to illustrate how local properties of the dependent variables at the vacuum point influence the evolution over different time scales. For the first case, the elevation (density) variable is initially continuous but not differentiable at the dry (vacuum) point: no gradient catastrophe develops in this variable, with the time evolution eventually merging into a single (shifted) Stoker wave. Conversely, for the second case, the elevation joins the dry state with vanishing first derivative and a curvature jump: for an instant in time a global gradient catastrophe at the fixed contact point forms and immediately evolves as a Stoker parabolic simple wave, allowing the contact point to split into two moving points, one at the dry bed and one at a fixed elevation, where curvature singularities persist at all times. Although in both cases shocks develop for the velocity field, these are nongeneric, in that, in contrast to the usual case, infinitely many conservation laws are satisfied at all times. Long time evolution is further analyzed with the help of new stretched ``unfolding"" variables to extract the details of the asymptotic approach to a rarefaction Stoker-like wave.

Singularities of plane into plane mappings described by parabolic two-component systems of quasi-liner partial differential equations of the first order are studied. Impediments arising in the application of the original Whitney's approach to such case are discussed. Hierarchy of singularities is analysed by double-scaling expansion method for the simplest $2$-component Jordan system. It is shown that flex is the lowest singularity while higher singularities are given by $(k+1,k+2)$ curves which are of cusp type for $k=2n+1$, $n=1,2,3,\dots$. Regularization of these singularities by deformation of plane into plane mappings into surface $S^{2+k} (\subset \mathbb{R}^{2+k} ) $ to plane is discussed. Applicability of the proposed approach to other parabolic type mappings is noted., Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures

A new, general, closed-form soliton solution formula for the classical Heisenberg ferromagnet equation with in-plane asymptotic conditions is obtained by means of the inverse scattering transform technique and the matrix triplet method. This formula encompasses the soliton solutions already known in the literature as well as a new class of soliton solutions (the so-called multipole solutions), allowing their classification and description. Examples from all classes are provided and discussed.

We develop the direct and inverse scattering theory of the linear eigenvalue problem associated with the classical Heisenberg continuous equation with in-plane asymptotic conditions. In particular, analyticity of the scattering eigenfunctions and scattering data, and their asymptotic behaviours are derived. The inverse problem is formulated in terms of Marchenko equations, and the reconstruction formula of the potential in terms of eigenfunctions and scattering data is provided.

Master character of the multidimensional homogeneous Euler equation is discussed. It is shown that under restrictions to the lower dimensions certain subclasses of its solutions provide us with the solutions of various hydrodynamic type equations. Integrable one dimensional systems in terms of Riemann invariants and its extensions, multidimensional equations describing isoenthalpic and polytropic motions and shallow water type equations are among them., Comment: 20 pages, no figures

The theory of integrable systems of Hamiltonian PDEs and their near-integrable deformations is used to study evolution equations resulting from vertical-averages of the Euler system for two-layer stratified flows in an infinite 2D channel. The Hamiltonian structure of the averaged equations is obtained directly from that of the Euler equations through the process of Hamiltonian reduction. Long-wave asymptotics together with the Boussinesq approximation of neglecting the fluids' inertia is then applied to reduce the leading order vertically averaged equations to the shallow-water Airy system, and thence, in a non-trivial way, to the dispersionless non-linear Schr\"odinger equation. The full non-Boussinesq system for the dispersionless limit can then be viewed as a deformation of this well known equation. In a perturbative study of this deformation, it is shown that at first order the deformed system possesses an infinite sequence of constants of the motion, thus casting this system within the framework of completely integrable equations. The Riemann invariants of the deformed model are then constructed, and some local solutions found by hodograph-like formulae for completely integrable systems are obtained., Comment: 26 pages; 8 figures

Non-standard parabolic regularization of gradient catastrophes for the Burgers-Hopf equation is proposed. It is based on the analysis of all (generic and higher order) gradient catastrophes and their step by step regularization by embedding the Burgers-Hopf equation into multi-component parabolic systems of quasilinear PDEs with the most degenerate Jordan block. Probabilistic realization of such procedure is presented. The complete regularization of the Burgers-Hopf equation is achieved by embedding it into the infinite parabolic Jordan chain. It is shown that the Burgers equation is a particular reduction of the Jordan chain. Gradient catastrophes for the parabolic Jordan systems are also studied., 20 pages- typos corrected

Changes of type transitions for the two-component hydrodynamic type systems are discussed. It is shown that these systems generically assume the Jordan form (with 2 X 2 Jordan block) on the transition line with hodograph equations becoming parabolic. Conditions which allow or forbid the transition from hyperbolic domain to elliptic one are discussed. Hamiltonian systems and their special subclasses and equations, like dispersionless nonlinear Schroedinger, dispersionless Boussinesq, one-dimensional isentropic gas dynamics equations and nonlinear wave equations are studied. Numerical results concerning the crossing of transition line for the dispersionless Boussinesq equation are presented too., 18 pages, 7 figures

Quasi-classical approximation in the intrinsic description of the vortex filament dynamics is discussed. Within this approximation, the governing equations are given by elliptic system of quasi-linear partial differential equations of the first order. Dispersionless Da Rios system and dispersionless Hirota equation are among them. They describe motion of vortex filament with slow-varying curvature and torsion without or with axial flow. Gradient catastrophe for governing equations is studied. It is shown that geometrically this catastrophe manifests as a fast oscillation of a filament curve around the rectifying plane which resembles the flutter of airfoils. Analytically, it is the elliptic umbilic singularity in the terminology of the catastrophe theory. It is demonstrated that its double scaling regularization is governed by the Painleve I equation.

For a stratified incompressible Euler fluid under gravity confined by rigid boundaries, sources of vorticity are classified with the aim of isolating those which are sensitive to the topological configurations of density isopycnals, for both layered and continuous density variations. The simplest case of a two-layer fluid is studied first. This shows explicitly that topological sources of vorticity are present whenever the interface intersects horizontal boundaries. Accordingly, the topological separation of the fluid domain due to the interface–boundary intersections can contribute additional terms to the vorticity balance equation. This phenomenon is reminiscent of Klein’s ‘Kaffeelöffel’ thought-experiment for a homogeneous fluid (Klein, Z. Math. Phys., vol. 59, 1910, pp. 259–262), and it is essentially independent of the vorticity generation induced by the baroclinic term in the bulk of the fluid. In fact, the two-layer case is generalized to show that for the continuously stratified case topological vorticity sources are generically present whenever density varies along horizontal boundaries. The topological sources are expressed explicitly in terms of local contour integrals of the pressure along the intersection curves of isopycnals with domain boundaries, and their effects on vorticity evolution are encoded by an appropriate vector, termed here the ‘topological vorticity’.

By using the Inverse Scattering Transform we construct an explicit soliton solution formula for the Hirota equation. The formula obtained allows one to get, as a particular case, the N -soliton solution, the breather solution and, most relevantly, a new class of solutions called multipole soliton solutions. We use these exact solutions to study the motion of a vortex filament in an incompressible Euler fluid with nonzero axial velocity.

Cohomological and Poisson structures associated with the special tautological subbundles $TB_{W_{1,2,\dots,n}}$ for the Birkhoff strata of Sato Grassmannian are considered. It is shown that the tangent bundles of $TB_{W_{1,2,\dots,n}}$ are isomorphic to the linear spaces of $2-$coboundaries with vanishing Harrison's cohomology modules. Special class of 2-coboundaries is provided by the systems of integrable quasilinear PDEs. For the big cell it is the dKP hierarchy. It is demonstrated also that the families of ideals for algebraic varieties in $TB_{W_{1,2,\dots,n}}$ can be viewed as the Poisson ideals. This observation establishes a connection between families of algebraic curves in $TB_{W_{\hat{S}}}$ and coisotropic deformations of such curves of zero and nonzero genus described by hierarchies of hydrodynamical type systems like dKP hierarchy. Interrelation between cohomological and Poisson structures is noted., Comment: 15 pages, no figures, accepted in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1005.2053

Consequences of density stratification are studied for an ideal (Euler) incompressible fluid, confined to move under gravity between rigid lids but otherwise free to move along horizontal directions. Initial conditions that generate horizontal pressure imbalances in a laterally unbounded domain are examined. The aim is to show analytically the existence of classes of initial data for which total horizontal momentum evolves in time, even though only vertical forces act on the fluid in this set-up. A simple class of such initial conditions, leading to momentum evolution, is identified by systematic asymptotic expansions of the governing inhomogeneous Euler equations in the small-density-variation limit. These results for Euler equations are compared and confirmed with long-wave asymptotic models, which can handle arbitrary density variations and provide closed-form mathematical expressions for limiting cases. In particular, the role of wave dispersion arising from the fluid inertia is captured by the long-wave models, even for short-time dynamics emanating from initial conditions outside the models’ asymptotic range of validity. These results are compared with direct numerical simulations for variable-density Euler fluids, which further validate the numerical algorithms and the analysis.

Structure and properties of families of critical points for classes of functions $W(z,\bar{z})$ obeying the elliptic Euler-Poisson-Darboux equation $E(1/2,1/2)$ are studied. General variational and differential equations governing the dependence of critical points in variational (deformation) parameters are found. Explicit examples of the corresponding integrable quasi-linear differential systems and hierarchies are presented There are the extended dispersionless Toda/nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger hierarchies, the "inverse" hierarchy and equations associated with the real-analytic Eisenstein series $E(\beta,\bar{{\beta}};1/2)$among them. Specific bi-Hamiltonian structure of these equations is also discussed., Comment: 18 pages, no figures

The interplay between incompressibility and stratification can lead to non-conservation of horizontal momentum in the dynamics of a stably stratified incompressible Euler fluid filling an infinite horizontal channel between rigid upper and lower plates. Lack of conservation occurs even though in this configuration only vertical external forces act on the system. This apparent paradox was seemingly first noticed by Benjamin (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 165, 1986, pp. 445–474) in his classification of the invariants by symmetry groups with the Hamiltonian structure of the Euler equations in two-dimensional settings, but it appears to have been largely ignored since. By working directly with the motion equations, the paradox is shown here to be a consequence of the rigid lid constraint coupling through incompressibility with the infinite inertia of the far ends of the channel, assumed to be at rest in hydrostatic equilibrium. Accordingly, when inertia is removed by eliminating the stratification, or, remarkably, by using the Boussinesq approximation of uniform density for the inertia terms, horizontal momentum conservation is recovered. This interplay between constraints, action at a distance by incompressibility, and inertia is illustrated by layer-averaged exact results, two-layer long-wave models, and direct numerical simulations of the incompressible Euler equations with smooth stratification.

We study the Jacobian Poisson structures in any dimension invariant with respect to the discrete Heisenberg group. The classification problem is related to the discrete volume of suitable solids. Particular attention is given to dimension 3 whose simplest example is the Artin-Schelter-Tate Poisson tensors. Copyright © 2011 G. Ortenzi et al.

We consider a 4D model for photon production induced by a %superluminal refractive index perturbation in a dielectric medium. We show that, in this model, we can infer the presence of a Hawking type effect. This prediction shows up both in the analogue Hawking framework, which is implemented in the pulse frame and relies on the peculiar properties of the effective geometry in which quantum fields propagate, as well as in the laboratory frame, through standard quantum field theory calculations. Effects of optical dispersion are also taken into account, and are shown to provide a limited energy bandwidth for the emission of Hawking radiation., Several improvements, also including dispersion, have been considered

Curved space–times and, in particular, event horizons of astrophysical black holes are expected to excite the quantum vacuum and give rise to an emission of quanta known as Hawking radiation. Remarkably, many physical systems may be considered analogous to black holes and as such hold promise for the detection of Hawking radiation. In particular, recent progress in the field of transformation optics, i.e. the description of optical systems in terms of curved space–time geometries, has led to a detailed description of methods for generating, via superluminal dielectrics, a blocking horizon for photons. Our measurements highlight the emission of photons from a moving refractive index perturbation induced by a laser pulse that is in quantitative agreement with the Hawking model. This opens an intriguing and readily accessible observation window into quantum field theory in curved space–time geometries.

We study algebraic varieties and curves arising in the Birkhoff strata of the Sato Grassmannian Gr(2). We show that the big cell Σ0 contains the tower of families of the normal rational curves of all odd orders. The strata Σ2n, n = 1, 2, 3,..., contain hyperelliptic curves of genus n and their coordinate rings. The strata Σ2n+1, n = 0, 1, 2, 3,..., contain (2m + 1, 2m + 3) plane curves for n = 2m, 2m - 1 (m ≥ 2) and also (3, 4) and (3, 5) curves in Σ3 and Σ5. Curves in the strata Σ2n+1 have zero genus. © 2011 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.

Gradient catastrophe and flutter instability in the motion of vortex filament within the localized induction approximation are analyzed. It is shown that the origin if this phenomenon is in the gradient catastrophe for the dispersionless Da Rios system which describes motion of filament with slow varying curvature and torsion. Geometrically this catastrophe manifests as a rapid oscillation of a filament curve in a point that resembles the flutter of airfoils. Analytically it is the elliptic umbilic singularity in the terminology of the catastrophe theory. It is demonstrated that its double scaling regularization is governed by the Painlev\'e-I equation., Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, typos corrected, references added

We study different algebraic and geometric properties of Heisenberg invariant Poisson polynomial quadratic algebras. We show that these algebras are unimodular. The elliptic Sklyanin-Odesskii-Feigin Poisson algebras $q_{n,k}(\mathcal E)$ are the main important example. We classify all quadratic $H-$invariant Poisson tensors on ${\mathbb C}^n$ with $n\leq 6$ and show that for $n\leq 5$ they coincide with the elliptic Sklyanin-Odesskii-Feigin Poisson algebras or with their certain degenerations., 14 pages, no figures, minor revision, typos corrected

Algebraic and geometric structures associated with Birkhoff strata of Sato Grassmannian are analyzed. It is shown that each Birkhoff stratum $\Sigma_S$ contains a subset $W_{\hat{S}}$ of points for which each fiber of the corresponding tautological subbundle $TB_{W_S}$ is closed with respect to multiplication. Algebraically $TB_{W_S}$ is an infinite family of infinite-dimensional commutative associative algebras and geometrically it is an infinite tower of families of algebraic curves. For the big cell the subbundle $TB_{W_\varnothing}$ represents the tower of families of normal rational (Veronese) curves of all degrees. For $W_1$ such tautological subbundle is the family of coordinate rings for elliptic curves. For higher strata, the subbundles $TB_{W_{1,2,\dots,n}}$ represent families of plane $(n+1,n+2)$ curves (trigonal curves at $n=2$) and space curves of genus $n$. Two methods of regularization of singular curves contained in $TB_{W_{\hat{S}}}$, namely, the standard blowing-up and transition to higher strata with the change of genus are discussed., Comment: 31 pages, no figures, version accepted in Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics. The sections on the integrable systems present in previous versions has been published separately

Optical pulse propagation in nonlinear Kerr media finds an elegant description in terms of particular spacetime metrics. By adopting the language of general relativity and applying standard reasoning developed in the context of quantum fields in curved space-time geometries we may expect to observe effects analogous to Hawking radiation. We discuss recent advances in this field and the application of ultrashort laser pulse filaments for the production of photons by excitation of the electromagnetic quantum vacuum.

We show that the bi-Hamiltonian structure of the rational n-particle (attractive) Calogero-Moser system can be obtained by means of a double projection from a very simple Poisson pair on the cotangent bundle of gl(n,R). The relation with the Lax formalism is also discussed., 19 pages, no figures, minor changes and remarks added

A class of Hamiltonian deformations of plane curves is defined and studied. Hamiltonian deformations of conics and cubics are considered as illustrative examples. These deformations are described by systems of hydrodynamical type equations. It is shown that solutions of these systems describe processes of formation of singularities (cusps, nodes), bubbles, and change of genus of a curve., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures

Event horizons of astrophysical black holes and gravitational analogues have been predicted to excite the quantum vacuum and give rise to the emission of quanta, known as Hawking radiation. We experimentally create such a gravitational analogue using ultrashort laser pulse filaments and our measurements demonstrate a spontaneous emission of photons that confirms theoretical predictions., 4 pages, 4 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett. (accepted)

We analyze in detail photon production induced by a superluminal refractive index perturbation in realistic experimental operating conditions. The interaction between the refractive index perturbation and the quantum vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field leads to the production of photon pairs., Comment: 4 pages

In the framework of transformation optics, we show that the propagation of a locally superluminal refractive index perturbation (RIP) in a Kerr medium can be described, in the eikonal approximation, by means of a stationary metric, which we prove to be of Gordon type. Under suitable hypotheses on the RIP, we obtain a stationary but not static metric, which is characterized by an ergosphere and by a peculiar behaviour of the geodesics, which are studied numerically, also accounting for material dispersion. Finally, the equation to be satisfied by an event horizon is also displayed and briefly discussed., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures

Cell polarization plays a central role in the development of complex organisms. It has been recently shown that cell polarization may follow from the proximity to a phase separation instability in a bistable network of chemical reactions. An example which has been thoroughly studied is the formation of signaling domains during eukaryotic chemotaxis. In this case, the process of domain growth may be described by the use of a constrained time-dependent Landau-Ginzburg equation, admitting scale-invariant solutions {\textit{\`a la}} Lifshitz and Slyozov. The constraint results here from a mechanism of fast cycling of molecules between a cytosolic, inactive state and a membrane-bound, active state, which dynamically tunes the chemical potential for membrane binding to a value corresponding to the coexistence of different phases on the cell membrane. We provide here a universal description of this process both in the presence and absence of a gradient in the external activation field. Universal power laws are derived for the time needed for the cell to polarize in a chemotactic gradient, and for the value of the smallest detectable gradient. We also describe a concrete realization of our scheme based on the analysis of available biochemical and biophysical data., Comment: Submitted to Journal of Statistical Mechanics -Theory and Experiments

Coisotropic deformations of algebraic varieties are defined as those for which an ideal of the deformed variety is a Poisson ideal. It is shown that coisotropic deformations of sets of intersection points of plane quadrics, cubics and space algebraic curves are governed, in particular, by the dKP, WDVV, dVN, d2DTL equations and other integrable hydrodynamical type systems. Particular attention is paid to the study of two- and three-dimensional deformations of elliptic curves. Problem of an appropriate choice of Poisson structure is discussed., Comment: 17 pages, no figures

We find a generating series for the higher Poisson structures of the nonlocal Camassa-Holm hierarchy, following the method used by Enriques, Orlov, and third author for the KdV case. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Eukaryotic cells possess a sensible chemical compass allowing them to orient toward sources of soluble chemicals. The extracellular chemical signal triggers separation of the cell membrane into two domains populated by different phospholipid molecules and oriented along the signal anisotropy. We propose a theory of this polarization process, which is articulated into subsequent stages of germ nucleation, patch coarsening, and merging into a single domain. We find that the polarization time, $t_\epsilon$ , depends on the anisotropy degree $\epsilon$ through the power law $t_\epsilon\propto\epsilon^{- 2}$ , and that in a cell of radius $R$ there should exist a threshold value $\epsilon_\mathrm{th}\propto R^{-1}$ for the smallest detectable anisotropy

We study exact string backgrounds (WZW models) generated by nonsemisimple algebras which are obtained as double extensions of generic D--dimensional semisimple algebras. We prove that a suitable change of coordinates always exists which reduces these backgrounds to be the product of the nontrivial background associated to the original algebra and two dimensional Minkowski. However, under suitable contraction, the algebra reduces to a Nappi--Witten algebra and the corresponding spacetime geometry, no more factorized, can be interpreted as the Penrose limit of the original background. For both configurations we construct D--brane solutions and prove that {\em all} the branes survive the Penrose limit. Therefore, the limit procedure can be used to extract informations about Nappi--Witten plane wave backgrounds in arbitrary dimensions., 27 pages, no figures, references added

We construct in an explict way the soliton equation corresponding to the affine Kac--Moody Lie algebra $G_2^{(1)}$ together with their bihamiltonian structure. Moreover the Riccati equation satisfied by the generating function of the commuting Hamiltonians densities is also deduced. Finally we describe a way to deduce the bihamiltonian equations directly in terms of this latter functions, 14 pages, no figures. v2: some typos corrected

We give a representation--theoretic interpretation of recent discovered coupled soliton equations using vertex operators construction of affinization of not simple but quadratic Lie algebras. In this setup we are able to obtain new integrable hierarchies coupled to each Drinfeld--Sokolov of $A$, $B$, $C$, $D$ hierarchies and to construct their soliton solutions., 50 pages, no figures