arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P. Winternitz.
The concept of superintegrability in quantum mechanics is extended to the case of a particle with spin s=1/2 interacting with one of spin s=0. Non-trivial superintegrable systems with 8- and 9-dimensional Lie algebras of first-order integrals of motion are constructed in two- and three-dimensional spaces, respectively.
Nonlinear ODEs invariant under the group SL(2,R) are solved numerically. We show that solution methods incorporating the Lie point symmetries provide better results than standard methods.
We consider a two-dimensional integrable Hamiltonian system with a vector and scalar potential in quantum mechanics. Contrary to the case of a pure scalar potential, the existence of a second order integral of motion does not guarantee the separation of variables in the Schroedinger equation. We introduce the concept of "quasiseparation of variables" and show that in many cases it allows us to reduce the calculation of the energy spectrum and wave functions to linear algebra.
Separable coordinate systems are introduced in the complex and real four-dimensional flat spaces. We use maximal Abelian subgroups to generate coordinate systems with a maximal number of ignorable variables. The results are presented (also graphically) in terms of subgroup chains. Finally, the explicit solutions of the Schrődinger equation in the separable coordinate systems are computed.
Lie group theory was originally created more than 100 years ago as a tool for solving ordinary and partial differential equations. In this article we review the results of a much more recent program: the use of Lie groups to study difference equations. We show that the mismatch between continuous symmetries and discrete equations can be resolved in at least two manners. One is to use generalized symmetries acting on solutions of difference equations, but leaving the lattice invariant. The other is to restrict to point symmetries, but to allow them to also transform the lattice.
A nilpotent Lie algebra n_{n,1} with an (n-1) dimensional Abelian ideal is studied. All indecomposable solvable Lie algebras with n_{n,1} as their nilradical are obtained. Their dimension is at most n+2. The generalized Casimir invariants of n_{n,1} and of its solvable extensions are calculated. For n=4 these algebras figure in the Petrov classification of Einstein spaces. For larger values of n they can be used in a more general classification of Riemannian manifolds.
Almost all research on superintegrable potentials concerns spaces of constant curvature. In this paper we find by exhaustive calculation, all superintegrable potentials in the four Darboux spaces of revolution that have at least two integrals of motion quadratic in the momenta, in addition to the Hamiltonian. These are two-dimensional spaces of nonconstant curvature. It turns out that all of these potentials are equivalent to superintegrable potentials in complex Euclidean 2-space or on the complex 2-sphere, via "coupling constant metamorphosis" (or equivalently, via Staeckel multiplier transformations). We present tables of the results.
A generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation, describing water waves in oceans of varying depth, density and vorticity is discussed. A priori, it involves 9 arbitrary functions of one, or two variables. The conditions are determined under which the equation allows an infinite dimensional symmetry algebra. This algebra can involve up to three arbitrary functions of time. It depends on precisely three such functions if and only if it is completely integrable.
New exact solutions are obtained for several nonlinear physical equations, namely the Navier-Stokes and Euler systems, an isentropic compressible fluid system and a vector nonlinear Schroedinger equation. The solution methods make use of the symmetry group of the system in situations when the standard Lie method of symmetry reduction is not applicable.
A symmetry classification of possible interactions in a diatomic molecular chain is provided. For nonlinear interactions the group of Lie point transformations, leaving the lattice invariant and taking solutions into solutions, is at most five-dimensional. An example is considered in which subgroups of the symmetry group are used to reduce the dynamical differential-difference equations to purely difference ones.
Different symmetry formalisms for difference equations on lattices are reviewed and applied to perform symmetry reduction for both linear and nonlinear partial difference equations. Both Lie point symmetries and generalized symmetries are considered and applied to the discrete heat equation and to the integrable discrete time Toda lattice.
A Hamiltonian with two degrees of freedom is said to be superintegrable if it admits three functionally independent integrals of the motion. This property has been extensively studied in the case of two-dimensional spaces of constant (possibly zero) curvature when all the independent integrals are either quadratic or linear in the canonical momenta. In this article the first steps are taken to solve the problem of superintegrability of this type on an arbitrary curved manifold in two dimensions. This is done by examining in detail one of the spaces of revolution found by G. Koenigs. We determine that there are essentially three distinct potentials which when added to the free Hamiltonian of this space have this type of superintegrability. Separation of variables for the associated Hamilton-Jacobi and Schroedinger equations is discussed. The classical and quantum quadratic algebras associated with each of these potentials are determined.
The main physical result of this paper are exact analytical solutions of the heavenly equation, of importance in the general theory of relativity. These solutions are not invariant under any subgroup of the symmetry group of the equation. The main mathematical result is a new method of obtaining noninvariant solutions of partial differential equations with infinite dimensional symmetry groups. The method involves the compatibility of the given equations with a differential constraint, which is automorphic under a specific symmetry subgroup, the latter acting transitively on the submanifold of the common solutions. By studying the integrability of the resulting conditions, one can provide an explicit foliation of the entire solution manifold of the considered equations.
We derive integrable discrete systems which are contiguity relations of two equations in the Painlevé-Gambier classification depending on some parameter. These studies extend earlier work where the contiguity relations for the six transcendental Painlevé equations were obtained. In the case of the Gambier equation we give the contiguity relations for both the continuous and the discrete system.
A class of two-dimensional field theories with exponential interactions is introduced. The interaction depends on two ``coupling'' matrices and is sufficiently general to include all Toda field theories existing in the literature. Lie point symmetries of these theories are found for an infinite, semi-infinite and finite number of fields. Special attention is accorded to conformal invariance and its breaking.
The Lie symmetries of a large class of generalized Toda field theories are studied and used to perform symmetry reduction. Reductions lead to generalized Toda lattices on one hand, to periodic systems on the other. Boundary conditions are introduced to reduce theories on an infinite lattice to those on semi-infinite, or finite ones.
The Lie point symmetries of a coupled system of two nonlinear differential-difference equations are investigated. It is shown that in special cases the symmetry group can be infinite dimensional, in other cases up to 10 dimensional. The equations can describe the interaction of two long molecular chains, each involving one type of atoms.
Group theoretical methods are used to study the equations describing χ^{(2)}:χ^{(2)} cascading. The equations are shown not to be integrable by inverse scattering techniques. On the other hand, these equations do share some of the nice properties of soliton equations. Large families of explicit analytical solutions are obtained in terms of elliptic functions. In special cases, these periodic solutions reduce to localized ones, i.e., solitary waves. All previously known explicit solutions are recovered, and many additional ones are obtained