摘要
For M x N spectral matrix, a kind of operation. which satisfies combination law (a circle dot b) circle dot c = a circle dot (b circle dot c) is introduced. The discrete multi-component zero-curvature equation is deduced by using the new operation circle dot, and a simple method for constructing discrete multi-component integrable hierarchy is proposed. As its application, the multi-component Toda hierarchy and its two kinds of integrable couplings are worked out.