Continuous Limit, Rational Solutions, and Asymptotic State Analysis for the Generalized Toda Lattice Equation Associated with 3 × 3 Lax Pair

Discrete integrable nonlinear differential difference equations (NDDEs) have various mathematical structures and properties, such as Lax pair, infinitely many conservation laws, Hamiltonian structure, and different kinds of symmetries, including Lie point symmetry, generalized Lie bäcklund symmetry, and master symmetry. Symmetry is one of the very effective methods used to study the exact solutions and integrability of NDDEs. The Toda lattice equation is a famous example of NDDEs, which may be used to simulate the motions of particles in lattices. In this paper, we investigated the generalized Toda lattice equation related to 3×3 matrix linear spectral problem. This discrete equation is related to continuous linear and nonlinear partial differential equations under the continuous limit. Based on the known 3×3 Lax pair of this equation, the discrete generalized (m,3N−m)-fold Darboux transformation was constructed for the first time and extended from the 2×2 Lax pair to the 3×3 Lax pair to give its rational solutions. Furthermore, the limit states of such rational solutions are discussed via the asymptotic analysis technique. Finally, the exponential–rational mixed solutions of the generalized Toda lattice equation are obtained in the form of determinants.