Application of Lie-group symmetry analysis to an infinite hierarchy of differential equations at the example of first order ODEs

Abstract: This study will explicitly demonstrate by example that an unrestricted infinite and forward recursive hierarchy of differential equations must be identified as an unclosed system of equations, despite the fact that to each unknown function in the hierarchy there exists a corresponding determined equation to which it can be bijectively mapped to. As a direct consequence, its admitted set of symmetry transformations must be identified as a weaker set of indeterminate equivalence transformations. The reason is that no unique general solution can be constructed, not even in principle. Instead, infinitely many disjoint and thus independent general solution manifolds exist. This is in clear contrast to a closed system of differential equations that only allows for a single and thus unique general solution manifold, which, by definition, covers all possible particular solutions this system can admit. Herein, different first order Riccati-ODEs serve as an example, but this analysis is not restricted to them. All conclusions drawn in this study will translate to any first order or higher order ODEs as well as to any PDEs.