We show that integrable involutive maps, due to the fact they admit three integrals in separated form, can give rise to equations, which are consistent around the cube and which are not in the multiaffine form assumed in papers [1,2]. Lattice models, which are discussed here, are related to the lattice potential KdV equation by nonlocal transformations (discrete quadratures).

We give integrable quad equations which are multi-quadratic (degreetwo) counterparts of the well-known multi-affine (degree-one) equations classified by Adler, Bobenko and Suris (ABS). These multi-quadratic equations define multi-valued evolution from initial data, but our construction is based on the hypothesis that discriminants of the defining polynomial factorise in a particular way that allows to reformulate the equation as a single-valued system. Such reformulation comes at the cost of introducing auxiliary (edge) variables and augmenting the initial data. Like the multi-affine equations listed by ABS, these new models are consistent in multidimensions. We clarify their relationship with the ABS list by obtaining Bäcklund transformations connecting all but the primary multi-quadratic model back to equations from the multi-affine class.

We introduce the sub-lattice approach, a procedure to generate, from a given integrable lattice, a sub-lattice which inherits its integrability features. We consider, as illustrative example of this approach, the discrete Moutard 4-point equation and its sub-lattice, the self-adjoint 5-point scheme on the star of the square lattice, which are relevant in the theory of the integrable Discrete Geometries and in the theory of discrete holomorphic and harmonic functions (in this last context, the discrete Moutard equation is called discrete Cauchy-Riemann equation). We use the sub-lattice point of view to derive, from the Darboux transformations and superposition formulas of the discrete Moutard equation, the Darboux transformations and superposition formulas of the self-adjoint 5-point scheme. We also construct, from algebro-geometric solutions of the discrete Moutard equation, algebro-geometric solutions of the self-adjoint 5-point scheme. We finally use these solutions to construct explicit examples of discrete holomorphic and harmonic functions, as well as examples of quadrilateral surfaces in R 3 .

With this paper we begin an investigation of difference schemes that possess Darboux transformations and can be regarded as natural discretizations of elliptic partial differential equations. We construct, in particular, the Darboux transformations for the general self adjoint schemes with five and seven neighbouring points. We also introduce a distinguished discretization of the two-dimensional stationary Schrödinger equation, described by a 5-point difference scheme involving two potentials, which admits a Darboux transformation.