Multiform description of the AKNS hierarchy and classical r-matrix

In recent years, new properties of space-time duality in the Hamiltonian formalism of certain integrable classical field theories have been discovered and have led to their reformulation using ideas from covariant Hamiltonian field theory: in this sense, the covariant nature of their classical r-matrix structure was unravelled. Here, we solve the open question of extending these results to a whole hierarchy. We choose the Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur (AKNS) hierarchy. To do so, we introduce for the first time a Lagrangian multiform for the entire AKNS hierarchy. We use it to construct explicitly the necessary objects introduced previously by us: a symplectic multiform, a multi-time Poisson bracket and a Hamiltonian multiform. Equipped with these, we prove the following results: (i) the Lax form containing the whole sequence of Lax matrices of the hierarchy possesses the rational classical r-matrix structure; (ii) the zero curvature equations of the AKNS hierarchy are multiform Hamilton equations associated to our Hamiltonian multiform and multi-time Poisson bracket; (iii) the Hamiltonian multiform provides a way to characterise the infinite set of conservation laws of the hierarchy reminiscent of the familiar criterion {I, H} = 0 for a first integral I.