Symmetries and Conservation Laws for Differential Equations of Mathematical Physics

This book presents developments in the geometric approach to nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). The expositions discuss the main features of the approach, and the theory of symmetries and the conservation laws based on it. The book combines rigorous mathematics with concrete examples. Nontraditional topics, such as the theory of nonlocal symmetries and cohomological theory of conservation laws, are also included. The volume is largely self-contained and includes detailed motivations, extensive examples and exercises, and careful proofs of all results. Readers interested in learning the basics of applications of symmetry methods to differential equations of mathematical physics will find the text useful. Experts will also find it useful as it gathers many results previously only available in journals.