First integrals, symmetries and group actions on first integrals (Lewis White)

16:00, December 6, Kennedy Seminar Room 2

Abstract: Symmetry methods for differential equations have been of interest since Sophus Lie in the 19th century discovered methods to help solve differential equations. Since that time there has been lots of new developments in this theory. One of these developments is finding first integrals of differential equations. Having a complete set of first integrals allows us to solve a differential equation. In this presentation I will go into some of the theory of symmetry methods for differential equations. Then move onto the main topic which is finding first integrals of differential equations and then I will give some interesting results which link the Lie algebra of the symmetries with the Lie algebra made by the action on the first integrals.