Fractional conformal invariance method for finding conserved quantities of dynamical systems

For a dynamical system that can be transformed into fractional Birkhoffian representation, under a more general kind of fractional infinitesimal transformation of Lie group, we present the fractional conformal invariance method and it is found that, using the new method, we can find a new kind of non-Noether conserved quantity; and we find that, as a special case, an autonomous fractional Birkhoffian system possesses more conserved quantities. Also, as the fractional conformal invariance method's applications, we, respectively, explore the conformal invariance and conserved quantities of a fractional Lotka biochemical oscillator and a fractional Hojman-Unutia model. This work constructs a basic theoretical framework of fractional conformal invariance method, and provides a general method for finding conserved quantities of an actual fractional dynamical system that is related to science and engineering. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.