We construct a new algebraic linearization of the discrete periodic Toda flow by using Mumford's algebraic description of the Jacobian of a hyperelliptic curve. In particular, the discrete periodic Toda flow can be expressed in terms of the famous Gau{ \ss} composition law for quadratic forms adapted to the framework of hyperelliptic curves by Cantor. One surprising consequence of our approach is a new integrality property for the discrete periodic Toda flow which leads to a $p$-adic description of the closely related periodic box-ball flow, which has very surprising connections to number theory.
Categories: math.AG math-ph math.MP