# Fractional-differential equations of motion

## Abstract

An elementary system leading to the notions of fractional integrals and derivatives is considered. Various physical situations whose description is associated with fractional differential equations of motion are discussed.

PACS: 05.70.Ln, 47.53.+n, 64.60.Ak

Key words: Nonideal memory, Fractal, Fractional integral/derivative

Consider a medium exhibiting memory. Such a situation arises in describing the structure of a solid far from thermodynamic equilibrium: in amorphous materials, under structural relaxation of high-$`T_c`$ oxide superconductors, under plastic deformation and destruction of solids, in solid solutions and in martensite macrostructures, and so on . The existence of memory implies that if a force $`f(t^{})`$ acts on a system at an instant $`t^{}>0`$, then a flux $`J`$ arises whose magnitude at a subsequent instant $`t>t^{}`$ is given by

$$J(t)=_0^tM(tt^{})f(t^{})\text{d}t^{}.$$
(1)   
For a system without memory, the time dependence of the memory function $`M(tt^{})`$ has the form

$$M(tt^{})=\gamma \delta (tt^{}),$$
(2)   
where $`\gamma `$ is a positive constant and $`\delta (tt^{})`$ is the Dirac $`\delta `$-function. On substituting (2) into (1), we obtain the relation

$$J(t)=\gamma f(t),$$
(3)   
according to which in the absence of memory only a force value at the same instant $`t`$ has an effect on the flux $`J(t)`$. With memory inclusion, the $`\delta `$-function in (2) spreads into a bell-shaped function with a width determining an interval $`\tau `$ during which the force $`f`$ has an effect on the flux $`J`$. For systems with ideal memory, we have $`\tau \mathrm{}`$, i.e., the flux $`J(t)`$ is formed over all the course of the action of the force $`f(t^{})`$ up to the instant $`t`$. Formally, this is expressed by specifying the kernel of the integral relation (1) in the form

$$M(tt^{})=\gamma /t.$$
(4)   
Here, the dependence on the instant $`t^{}`$ of the force $`f`$ action is absent, and the dependence of the memory on the flux measurement time $`t`$ is given so as to satisfy the normalization condition

$$_0^tM(tt^{})\text{d}t^{}=\gamma .$$
(5)   
Relation (1) as written in the time domain, is inconvenient because of the convolution (integral over $`t^{}`$). This can be eliminated by using the Laplace transformation

$$f(t)=_i\mathrm{}^{+i\mathrm{}}f(\lambda )\text{e}^{\lambda t}\frac{\text{d}\lambda }{2\pi i},f(\lambda )=_0^{\mathrm{}}f(t)\text{e}^{\lambda t}\text{d}t,$$
(6)   
which enables one to move from the time $`t`$ to the complex frequency $`\lambda `$. After transforming both sides of the definition (1), this converts to the algebraic form

$$J(\lambda )=M(\lambda )f(\lambda ).$$
(7)   
Obviously the Laplace transform of the kernel (2), which corresponds to the absence of memory, reduces to a constant:

$$M(\lambda )=\gamma .$$
(8)   
For ideal memory, we obtain from (4), in the limit $`|\lambda |t1`$

$$M(\lambda )=\gamma /\lambda t.$$
(9)   
Thus, the inclusion of memory leads to the transformation of the constant kernel (8) into the hyperbolic form (9).

In this connection, one could ask: How does the function $`M(\lambda )`$ stand up if memory is complete but nonideal? This means that the memory manifests itself within the interval $`(0,t)`$ preceding $`t`$ but not at all instants $`t^{}`$. Assume, for example, that memory holds only at the points of a Cantor set. One can then expect that its fractal dimension $`D`$ will be associated with a measure of memory preservation.

Although elementary for simple time dependences (2) and (4), the problem of finding the Laplace transform for the memory acting at the points of the Cantor set is much more difficult. The appropriate calculations  arrive at the result

$$M(\lambda )=A_Dz^D,z=(1\xi )\lambda t.$$
(10)   
Here, the fractal dimension $`D`$ is defined by usual equality  $`D=\mathrm{ln}j/\mathrm{ln}\xi ^1`$, $`j`$ is the branching index of the corresponding hierarchical tree, $`\xi `$ is the similarity parameter, and the constant $`A_D=2^{D/2}`$ for the Cantor discontinuum with the number of elementary blocks $`j=2`$.

It can easily be seen that the memory function (10) satisfies the similarity condition $`M(\xi \lambda )=\xi ^DM(\lambda )`$ with the exponent $`D`$. Being the fractal dimension of the Cantor set at whose points memory is switched on, this exponent thus represents a quantitative measure of the manifestation of memory effects. For an empty Cantor set ($`\xi =0`$), one has $`D=0`$, and the dependence (10) reduces to the constant (8), corresponding to the entire absence of memory. The exponent $`D`$ increases with the similarity parameter $`\xi >0`$, and the Laplace transform (10) becomes an increasingly more rapidly varying function. The limiting value $`\xi =j^1`$ of the similarity parameter yields the dimension $`D=1`$, which corresponds to the ideal memory governed by the function (9).

Thus, systems with residual memory are described by the Laplace transform (10), where the exponent value $`0D1`$ determines the extent of memory preservation. Using the inverse Laplace transformation (6), we find for the time-dependent memory function in the simplest case of the Cantor set with $`j=2`$ (see , )

$$M(tt^{})=(\gamma /\pi )\left[\sqrt{2}(1\xi )t\right]^D\mathrm{\Gamma }(1D)(tt^{})^{D1},$$
(11)   
where $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(1D)`$ is the gamma-function. Substituting this into equality (1), we bring this equality in the form

$$J(t)=(\gamma /\pi )\left[\sqrt{2}(1\xi )\right]^D\widehat{D}^Df(t),$$
(12)   
where the integral is introduced

$`\widehat{D}^Df(t)`$ $`=`$ $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(1D){\displaystyle _0^1}(1u)^{D1}f(ut)\text{d}u`$ (13)   
$`=`$ $`D^1\mathrm{\Gamma }(1D){\displaystyle _0^1}f\left((1u)t\right)\text{d}u^D,`$ (14)   
whose fractional nature is reflected by the presence of the exponent $`D`$ in the argument $`u`$ of differential .

In the foregoing discussion we have used an integral representation for memory effects. It is easy to show, however, that an equivalent differential equation can be written that corresponds to this integral representation. For example, if we have some conserved quantity $`n`$ (like the number density of atoms), then it space–time dependence $`n(𝐫,t)`$ is governed by the continuity equation

$$\frac{n}{t}=𝐉,$$
(15)   
where the flux J is given by equality (1). In the absence of memory effects, equality (3) is satisfied, where the force f is given by

$$𝐟=\mu ,$$
(16)   
where $`\mu `$ is the chemical potential, and (14) leads to a conventional equation of diffusion type 

$$\frac{n}{t}=(\gamma \mu ).$$
(17)   
According to the earlier discussion, when memory is switched on, a fractional integral appears on the right-hand side of (16). The treatment of the resulting integro-differential equation, with partial derivatives and furthermore, of fractional order, presents a very difficult problem.

However, this problem can be simplified when it is considered that the memory function $`M(tt^{})`$ vanishes within some intervals, thus leading to a fixing of the flux J in (14) and correspondingly to the vanishing of the velocity $`n/t`$. Therefore, it would appear natural that loss of memory can be taken into account by a fractional property, not only of the flux integral (1) but also of the time derivative in (14). Because equation (16) corresponds to the entire absence of memory ($`D=0`$), when it is switched on, as is reflected by the growth of the exponent $`D`$, the rate of $`n`$ variation must decrease, and it is reasonable to postulate a fractional-differential equation of the form (see further)

$$\frac{^qn}{t^q}=(\gamma \mu ),q=1D.$$
(18)   
As would be expected, the growth of the memory parameter $`D`$ leads to lowering the order $`q`$ of this equation. In systems with ideal memory ($`D=1`$), the derivative on the left-hand side of (17) disappears so that one should treat the behavior of the flux (1) itself which is what we have done above.

Our considerations in favor of the specific form $`q=1D`$ for the fractional degree in equation (17) act as guidelines. To confirm these, we will show that equation (12) for the flux in the form of the fractional integral (13) is in agreement with the solution of the fractional-order differential equation (17). Indeed, replacing the variable $`u`$ by $`(1u)t`$ in the integrand of the second integral of (13), one can easily show the time dependence of the flux to have the form $`Jt^D`$. Substituting this dependence into (14), we find the solution

$$nt^{1D},$$
(19)   
satisfying the tested equation (17). This confirms conclusively the equivalence of the mutually complementary concepts of the fractional integral (13) and the fractional-differential equation (17). Notably is displayed in the same form the geometric relation $`Ll^{1D}`$ for coastline length $`L(l)`$ and in the physical dependence $`n(t)`$ obtained. In particular, it follows that the time $`t`$ plays the some role as the length of the segments $`l`$, covering a $`D`$-dimensional fractal set in the space of states, the points of this set determining the memory of the system.

When interpreting equation (17) in fractional derivatives, we start from the fact that in the usual case $`D=0`$ this equation governs irreversible processes like diffusion, heat conductivity, and so forth . In the latter processes, the microscopic memory with respect to time inversion is completely lost: the mechanical equations of motion for an isolated object exhibit ideal memory, manifesting itself in the invariance with respect to the replacement $`tt`$, whereas such invariance is completely violated in the thermodynamic equation (16). It follows that a decrease in the derivative order $`q=1D`$ in (17) corresponds to the switching on of memory channels whose part is determined by the fractal dimension $`D`$. The remaining $`q=1D`$ channels provide the irreversibility of the system. In the initial form, the residual irreversibility can be taken into account by using the fractional form of the Liouville equation 

$$\frac{i\mathrm{}}{t}\frac{^D\rho }{u^D}=[H,\rho ],$$
(20)   
where $`\mathrm{}`$ is the Planck constant, $`H`$ is the Hamiltonian, $`\rho `$ is the nonequilibrium statistical operator, $`t`$ is the evolution time of a macroscopic system, and $`u=t^{}/t`$ is the dimensionless microscopic time bounded by the condition $`u<1`$. It is apparent that the condition $`D<1`$ enables one, in the framework of (19), to take into account the irreversible effects in the interval $`(0,t)`$ which are due to the loss of $`q=1D`$ deterministic channels. Such a means of allowing for the irreversibility is obviously preferable to the phenomenological addition to the right-hand side of (19) of the relaxation term $`\rho /\tau `$, where $`\tau `$ is the relaxation time,  or to the inclusion of an infinitesimal source ).

Apart from equations of the diffusion type, one might expect the appearance of fractional derivatives in a case of the description of the motion of particles under inelastic collisions. Performing calculations similar to those that led to the flux of the form (12), one can show  that, if a force $`F`$ acts on a particle of mass $`m`$ in each collision, then the change in its velocity

$$\mathrm{\Delta }v=\left[\sqrt{2}(1\xi )\right]^D(t/m)\widehat{D}^DF$$
(21)   
is determined by a fractional integral of the form (13). From the above example of the diffusion equation, one can see that, in order to switch to the corresponding fractional-differential equation, it is sufficient to operate on equation (20) with the operator $`\widehat{D}^D=^D/u^D`$ which is inverse with respect to the fractional integral $`\widehat{D}^D`$. In the case of an elastic force $`𝐅=\lambda \mathrm{\Omega }^2𝐫`$, where $`\lambda `$ is the elastic constant and $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is the atomic volume, we then obtain the generalized transport equation for the particle coordinate $`𝐫`$ 

$$\frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+D}𝐫}{\mathrm{d}u^{1+D}}+(ct)^2^2𝐫=0,$$
(22)   
where the dimensionless time $`u=t^{}/t<1`$ is used and the characteristic velocity $`c`$, defined by

$$c^2=(\lambda \mathrm{\Omega }/m)\left[\sqrt{2}(1\xi )\right]^D.$$
(23)   
is introduced. Equation (21) governs a new type of wave motion that is intermediate between conventional diffusion ($`D=0`$) and classical waves ($`D=1`$). Accordingly, formula (22) determines the diffusion coefficient $`D=c^2t`$ in the first case and the wave velocity $`c`$ in the second case.

The fractional-differential equations (17) and (21) are written as applied to the study of the space–time behavior of conserved quantities. As we known , this is reflected in the presence of a second derivative with respect to the coordinate in the right-hand sides of these equations. For a nonconserved quantity $`\eta `$, this derivative vanishes, and the diffusion equation (17) converts to the generalized Landau–Khalatnikov relaxation equation

$$\frac{\mathrm{d}^{1D}\eta }{\mathrm{d}u^{1D}}=(\gamma _Dt)\eta ,$$
(24)   
and the wave equation (21) converts to the generalized equation for an harmonic oscillator

$$\frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+D}\eta }{\mathrm{d}u^{1+D}}+(\omega _Dt)^2\eta =0;$$
(25)   
here, as above, $`u=t^{}/t`$ is the dimensionless time, and the parameters $`\gamma _D`$, $`\omega _D\left[\sqrt{2}(1\xi )\right]^D`$ determine the relaxation time $`\tau _D=\gamma _D^1`$ and the oscillator frequency $`\omega _D`$. The fractal dimension $`D`$ specifies a measure of the residual memory of the system. In its absence ($`D=0`$), both equations (23) and (24) reduce to the equation of Debye’s relaxation which governs the behavior of the simplest thermodynamic systems ($`\gamma _0=\omega _0^2t`$ in this case). For ideal memory ($`D=1`$), equation (23) degenerates into the condition of phase equilibrium $`\eta =\eta _0`$ and (24) degenerates into the ordinary oscillator relation.

The above consideration shows that, in limiting cases, one can recognize the following equations of motion, which correspond to the different types of behavior of a continuous medium. First, there is the continuity equation, being the condition for the conservation of particles in the medium. In the context of a mechanistic approach, the oscillatory behavior is governed either by an equation of oscillation, which involves a second derivative with respect to time, or by a wave equation involving second derivatives with respect to both time and space coordinates. Under the thermodynamic description of a system determined by a hydrodynamic mode, its amplitude (order parameter) may be characterized both by reactive and by dissipative regimes. In the first regime, the equation of motion reduces to an oscillatory equation for a nonconserved parameter and to a wave equation for a conserved one. Upon entering the dissipative regime, the time-derivative order is lowered to the first order.

Although these equations govern quite different physical situations, our discussion shows them to transform smoothly from one to another , . Thus, the question arises: Is it possible to give a model of the medium whose equation of motion includes all the above types as special cases? Following , we will show how such an equation can be obtained.

We start from the continuity equation $`\dot{\eta }+𝐣=0`$ for the order parameter field $`\eta (𝐫,t)`$ characterized by the flux $`𝐣(𝐫,t)`$. In the general case, the latter is nonlocally related to the distribution of the chemical potential $`\mu (𝐫,t)`$. In the framework of the Fourier representation with respect to the space coordinate and of the Laplace representation with respect to time (we take into account the causality condition), this relation reduces to the equality $`𝐣(𝐤,\lambda )=𝐌(𝐤,\lambda )\mu (𝐤,\lambda )`$, where $`𝐤`$ is the wave vector and $`\lambda `$ is the complex frequency.

To find the dependence of the memory function $`𝐌(𝐤,\lambda )`$ on $`𝐤`$, we will consider the simplest one-dimensional model of the medium in the form of a segment $`0xl`$. Then the flux through the right boundary is given by (cf.Eq.(1))

$$j(l)=_0^lM(lx)\mu (x)dx.$$
(26)   
We assume that the function $`M(x)`$ takes on nonzero values only at the points of the Cantor set which is obtained from the original segment $`[0,l]`$ by the convolution method. Then, as in Ref., it can be shown that the desired dependence is given by the equality similar to (10):

$$M(k)=\mathrm{e}^{\alpha D}\kappa ^D,\kappa =ikl(1\xi ).$$
(27)   
Here, the constant $`\alpha 1`$ is introduced (according to , $`\alpha =2^1\mathrm{ln}2=0.347`$ for the simplest Cantor set), $`D`$, $`\xi `$, and $`l`$ are the fractal dimension, the similarity parameter, and the scale, respectively, which describe the set of points on the $`x`$-axis where the order parameters conserved. Using (26), we find the dispersion law from the continuity equation:

$$\lambda =B_Dk^{1D},B_D=i^{1D}\mathrm{e}^{\alpha D}(1\xi )^Dl^{1D}\mathrm{d}\mu /\mathrm{d}\eta .$$
$`(27a)`$   
When we reduce the fractal set to a continuum ($`\xi =1/2`$), its dimension is then $`D=1`$, and relation (27a) corresponds to the Landau–Khalatnikov equation for the nonconserved order parameter. In the general case of $`\xi <1/2`$, upon reduction of the fractal dimension of the set with ordering points, the vanishing of long-wave harmonics occurs, which is inherent in the order parameter conserved. However, even the maximum value of the exponent $`1D`$, corresponding to the empty set ($`\xi =0`$), proves to be half as large as the exponent 2 inherent in the order parameter conserved.

To raise the exponent in the dispersion law (27a), we assume that the order parameter becomes conserved after going to the empty set as a result of the reducing the similarity parameter $`\xi `$ from $`1/2`$ to 0. Next, using a procedure inverse to convolution, we increase the fractal dimension to a finite value $`D>0`$. Obviously, this can be done by decreasing the similarity parameter $`\xi `$ from $`\mathrm{}`$ to a finite value $`\xi 2`$. The condition $`\xi >1`$ implies that we stretch the segments rather than convolute them. Then, the functional equation $`M(\kappa /\xi )=2^1M(\kappa )`$ takes the form $`M(\xi \kappa )=2M(\kappa )`$. Its solution $`M(\kappa )=\mathrm{e}^{\alpha D}\kappa ^D`$ has a positive exponent whose value is now determined by the relation

$$D=\mathrm{ln}2/\mathrm{ln}\xi $$
(28)   
instead of the usual equation $`D=\mathrm{ln}2/\mathrm{ln}\xi `$. Accordingly, the dispersion law for the partially conserved order parameter has the form

$$\lambda =B_Dk^{1+D},B_D=i^{1+D}\mathrm{e}^{\alpha D}|1\xi |^Dl^{1+D}\mathrm{d}\mu /\mathrm{d}\eta .$$
$`(27)`$   
As seen from (27a), the distinction from the case of the conserved order parameter reduces to the change of signs of $`D`$ and $`\xi 1`$. According to (28), this corresponds to the transition from contraction ($`\xi <1`$) to stretching ($`\xi >1`$) when constructing a fractal.

Thus, if it is assumed that the similarity parameter $`\xi `$ is defined in the regions $`(0,1/2]`$ and $`[2,\mathrm{})`$, the dispersion law will encompass both the cases of the nonconserved ($`D<0`$) and conserved ($`D>0`$) order parameter. The transition between the limiting cases occurs due to a smooth variation in the similarity parameter $`\xi `$. At $`\xi =1/2`$, there is $`D=1`$, and we have complete nonconservation of the order parameter. A decrease in $`\xi `$ down to values $`0<\xi <1/2`$ partially violates the nonconservation conditions, thus leading to an increase in the fractal dimension in the range $`1<D<0`$ and to the rise in the exponent of the dispersion law (27). With the empty Cantor set ($`D=0`$), we go from the nonconserved order parameter ($`\xi 0`$) to the conserved one ($`\xi \mathrm{}`$). A decrease in the similarity parameter within the segment $`2<\xi <\mathrm{}`$ ($`0<D<1`$) provides the rise in the number of conservation channels, thus increasing the exponent of the dispersion law (27). Finally, with the complete conservation of the order parameter ($`\xi =2`$, $`D=1`$), we obtain, as expected, $`\lambda k^2`$.

It is easy to understand that this variation in the order of the derivative with respect to the space coordinate can be extended to the derivative with respect to time. Indeed, as shown in , the memory switching on relative to the time inversion $`tt`$ in the equation of particle motion, leads to the appearance in (27) of the exponent $`1D_0`$ at frequency $`\lambda `$, where $`D_0`$ is the dimension of a fractal set on the time axis, at the points $`t`$ of which the mechanical memory is switched on. The set itself is represented by the similarity transformation $`F(z/\xi )=2^1F(z)`$, where $`z=\lambda t(1\xi _0)`$ is the argument and $`0\xi _01/2`$. The transition from the contraction region $`\xi _01/2`$ into the stretching region $`\xi _02`$, corresponding to the functional equation $`M(\xi _0z)=2M(z)`$, occurs on the empty set ($`D_0=0`$) and implies the replacement of the corpuscular memory by the wave memory. The latter is enhanced with a decrease in the similarity parameter $`\xi _0`$ and becomes ideal at $`\xi _0=2`$. Then, the exponent at the frequency $`\lambda `$ in (27) takes on the value 2 inherent in the wave equation.

Thus, in the general case of partial nonconservation/conservation of the order parameter and of the non-ideal memory of particle/wave, the dispersion law for a one-dimensional fractal medium takes the form

$`\lambda `$ $`=`$ $`c^{1/(1+D_0)}(ik)^q;`$ (29)   
$`q`$ $`=`$ $`(1+D)/(1+D_0),`$ (30)   
$`c`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{e}^{\alpha D}|\xi 1|^Dl^{1+D}}{\mathrm{e}^{\alpha _0D_0}|\xi _01|^{D_0}\tau ^{1+D_0}}}{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d}\mu }{\mathrm{d}\eta }},\alpha _0,\alpha 1,`$ (31)   
where $`l`$ and $`\tau `$ are the characteristic space-time scales, and the dependence of the dimension $`D_0`$ upon the parameter $`\xi _0`$ is determined by the same equality (28) as for the space component $`D(\xi )`$. Accordingly, the fractional-differential equations of motion are written in the form<sup>*</sup><sup>*</sup>*In the $`d`$-dimensional case, the second term of equation (30) is replaced by a sum of terms characterized by scale $`l_i`$, fractional dimension $`D_i`$, similarity parameter $`\xi _i`$ and constant $`\alpha _i`$, for $`i=1,\mathrm{},d`$.

$$\frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+D_0}\eta }{\mathrm{d}t^{1+D_0}}+i^{1+D}\frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+D}(c\eta )}{\mathrm{d}x^{1+D}}=0.$$
(32)   
In the linear approximation $`\mu \eta `$, the constant $`c`$ may be factored out of the differentiation sign.

It can be easily seen that, in the limiting cases of the integer-valued space-time dimensions $`D_0`$ and $`D`$, the linearized equation (30) encompasses the main regimes of medium evolution. For example, in the case $`D_0=1`$, this governs the wave motion at $`D=1`$, uniform oscillations at $`D=1`$, and localized oscillations at $`D=0`$. The constant $`c`$ equals the square of wave velocity, the square of oscillation frequency, and the product of localization region size and oscillation frequency, respectively. In the case $`D_0=0`$, we have the Landau–Khalatnikov equation for the conserved ($`D=1`$) and nonconserved ($`D=1`$) order parameters and the traveling-wave equation ($`D=0`$). The constant $`c`$ reduces to the diffusion coefficient in the first case, to the inverse relaxation time in the second case, and to the wave velocity in the third case. And finally, in the static case $`D_0=1`$, we obtain the Poisson equation at $`D=1`$, the equilibrium condition at $`D=1`$, and the Debye screening equation at $`D=0`$. Here, $`c`$ reduces, respectively, to the square of screening radius, to the inverse susceptibility $`\mathrm{d}\mu /\mathrm{d}\eta `$, and to the screening radius.

It is evident that the approach outlined enables one to represent not only linear equations of motion but also to generalize these to the nonlinear case and to take into account the higher dispersion terms. For example, if, by analogy with the theory of solitons , we set that, in addition to the term $`k^D`$, the flux involves the term $`k^{2+\mathrm{\Delta }}`$ with the exponent $`1\mathrm{\Delta }1`$, then a dispersion component of a higher order $`3+\mathrm{\Delta }`$ appears. The nonlinearity is reflected in the dependence $`\mu (\eta )`$ of the chemical potential on the order parameter. One should take into account that the dimension $`\delta `$ of a nonlinear channel does not reduce to the corresponding quantity $`D`$ for a linear one. As a result, equation (30) takes the form

$`{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+D_0}\eta }{\mathrm{d}t^{1+D_0}}}+i^{1+D}c_0{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+D}\eta }{\mathrm{d}x^{1+D}}}+\beta {\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d}^{3+\mathrm{\Delta }}\eta }{\mathrm{d}x^{3+\mathrm{\Delta }}}}+{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d}^{1+\delta }f(\eta )}{\mathrm{d}x^{1+\delta }}}=0,`$ (33)   
$`f(\eta )={\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{e}^{\alpha _\delta \delta }\left|\xi _\delta 1\right|^\delta l_\delta ^{1+\delta }}{\mathrm{e}^{\alpha _0D_0}\left|\xi _01\right|^{D_0}\tau ^{1+D_0}}}{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{d}\stackrel{~}{\mu }}{\mathrm{d}\eta }},`$ (34)   
where $`c_0`$ corresponds to $`\eta =0`$, $`\beta >0`$ is the dispersion parameter, and $`\stackrel{~}{\mu }(\eta )`$ is the nonlinear contribution into the chemical potential. This equation reduces to the Korteweg–de Vries equation at $`D_0=D=\mathrm{\Delta }=\delta =0`$ and $`f\eta ^2`$, to the nonlinear Schrödinger one at $`D_0=D=0`$, $`\mathrm{\Delta }=\delta =1`$, $`f=\eta ^3`$, and finally to the sine-Gordon equation at $`D_0=D=1`$, $`\beta =0`$, $`\delta =1`$, $`f=\mathrm{sin}\eta `$. As is known, these equations are notable in that their symmetry within the framework of the inverse problem of the scattering theory provides the existence of soliton solutions . Here the question arises: Will this symmetry also manifest itself at other values of the differentiation orders $`D`$, $`D_0`$, $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, and $`\delta `$ and/or with different choices of $`\beta `$ and $`f(\eta )`$? To answer this question demands investigation of the symmetry of multidimensional fractal sets and, to our knowledge, this has not been done.

Now, one can note only that conformal symmetry (see ) states the follow connection between the above exponents:

$$D=D_0=2(1+\delta n)^1.$$
(35)   
Here exponent $`n`$ determines the nonliniar contribution $`f(\eta )\eta ^{n1}`$. Within framework of the Landau $`\eta ^4`$-theory, one has $`n=4`$ for a thermodynamic system characterised by the additive noise which intensity is the temperature. But with passing to the multiplicative noise with the amplitude proportional to $`\eta ^a`$, $`0<a<1`$ the powers of $`\eta `$ for all terms in Eq.(31), excluding the first, are lowered by the value $`2a`$ .