Cauchy Problem for Integrable Discrete Equations on Quad-Graphs

Initial value problems for the integrable discrete equations on quad-graphs are investigated. We give a geometric criterion of when such a problem is well-posed. In the basic example of the discrete KdV equation an effective integration scheme based on the matrix factorization problem is proposed and the interaction of the solutions with the localized defects in the regular square lattice are discussed in details. The examples of kinks and solitons on various quad-graphs, including quasiperiodic tilings, are presented.