Nonlinear Mathematical Physics 1995, V.2, N 3–4, 269–277. Symmetries of Maxwell-Bloch Equations

We study symmetries of the real Maxwell-Bloch equations. We give a Lax pair, bi-Hamiltonian formulations and we find a symplectic realization of the system. We have also constructed a hierarchy of master symmetries which is used to generate nonlinear Poisson brackets. In addition we have calculated the classical Lie point symmetries and variational symmetries.