Quantum integrable models and discrete classical Hirota equations

The standard objects of quantum integrable systems are identified with elements of classical nonlinear integrable difference equations. The functional relation for commuting quantum transfer matrices of quantum integrable models is shown to coincide with classical Hirota's bilinear difference equation. This equation is equivalent to the completely discretized classical 2D Toda lattice with open boundaries. Elliptic solutions of Hirota's equation give a complete set of eigenvalues of the quantum transfer matrices. Eigenvalues of Baxter's Q-operator are solutions to the auxiliary linear problems for classical Hirota's equation. The elliptic solutions relevant to the Bethe ansatz are studied. The nested Bethe ansatz equations for A(k-1)-type models appear as discrete time equations of motions for zeros of classical tau-functions and Baker-Akhiezer functions. Determinant representations of the general solution to bilinear discrete Hirota's equation are analysed and a new determinant formula for eigenvalues of the quantum transfer matrices is obtained. Difference equations for eigenvalues of the Q-operators which generalize Baxter's three-term T-Q-relation are derived.