This book is devoted to a classical topic that has undergone rapid and fruitful development over the past 25 years, namely Backlund and Darboux transformations and their applications in the theory of integrable systems, also known as soliton theory. The book consists of two parts. The first is a series of introductory pedagogical lectures presented by leading experts in the field. They are devoted respectively to Backlund transformations of Painleve equations, to the dressing method and Backlund and Darboux transformations, and to the classical geometry of Backlund transformations and their applications to soliton theory.The second part contains original contributions that represent new developments in the theory and applications of these transformations. Both the introductory lectures and the original talks were presented at an International Workshop that took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada). This volume covers virtually all recent developments in the theory and applications of Backlund and Darboux transformations.
