The extended $Z_N$-Toda hierarchy

Abstract: The extended flow equations of a new $Z_N$-Toda hierarchy which takes values in a commutative subalgebra $Z_N$ of $gl(N,\mathbb C)$ is constructed. Meanwhile we give the Hirota bilinear equations and tau function of this new extended $Z_N$-Toda hierarchy(EZTH). Because of logarithm terms, some extended Vertex operators are constructed in generalized Hirota bilinear equations which might be useful in topological field theory and Gromov-Witten theory. Meanwhile the Darboux transformation and bi-hamiltonian structure of this hierarchy are given. From hamiltonian tau symmetry, we give another different tau function of this hierarchy with some unknown mysterious connections with the one defined from the point of Sato theory.