Integrable theory of the perturbation equations

Abstract An integrable theory is developed for the perturbation equations engendered from small disturbances of solutions. It includes various integrable properties of the perturbation equations, such as hereditary recursion operators, master symmetries, linear representations (Lax and zero curvature representations) and Hamiltonian structures, and provides us with a method of generating hereditary operators, Hamiltonian operators and symplectic operators starting from the known ones. The resulting perturbation equations give rise to a sort of integrable coupling of soliton equations. Two examples (MKdV hierarchy and KP equation) are carefully carried out.