Multi-component AKNS systems

We study two members of the multi-component AKNS hierarchy. These are multi-NLS and multi-MKdV systems. We derive the Hirota bilinear forms of these equations and obtain soliton solutions. We find all possible local and nonlocal reductions of these systems of equations and give a prescription to obtain their soliton solutions. We derive also $(2+1)$-dimensional extensions of the multi-component AKNS systems.