arXiv subjects

Willard Miller Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Willard Miller Jr..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

Four-body problem in d-dimensional space: ground state, (quasi)-exact-solvability. IV

Due to its great importance for applications, we generalize and extend the approach of our previous papers to study aspects of the quantum and classical dynamics of a $4$-body system with equal masses in {\it $d$}-dimensional space with interaction depending only on mutual (relative) distances. The study is restricted to solutions in the space of relative motion which are functions of mutual (relative) distances only. The ground state (and some other states) in the quantum case and some trajectories in the classical case are of this type. We construct the quantum Hamiltonian for which these states are eigenstates. For $d \geq 3$, this describes a six-dimensional quantum particle moving in a curved space with special $d$-independent metric in a certain $d$-dependent singular potential, while for $d=1$ it corresponds to a three-dimensional particle and coincides with the $A_3$ (4-body) rational Calogero model; the case $d=2$ is exceptional and is discussed separately. The kinetic energy of the system has a hidden $sl(7,{\bf R})$ Lie (Poisson) algebra structure, but for the special case $d=1$ it becomes degenerate with hidden algebra $sl(4,R)$. We find an exactly-solvable four-body $S_4$-permutationally invariant, generalized harmonic oscillator-type potential as well as a quasi-exactly-solvable four-body sextic polynomial type potential with singular terms. Naturally, the tetrahedron whose vertices correspond to the positions of the particles provides pure geometrical variables, volume variables, that lead to exactly solvable models. Their generalization to the $n$-body system as well as the case of non-equal masses is briefly discussed.

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arXiv2017

Contractions of Degenerate Quadratic Algebras, Abstract and Geometric

Quadratic algebras are generalizations of Lie algebras which include the symmetry algebras of 2nd order superintegrable systems in 2 dimensions as special cases. The superintegrable systems are exactly solvable physical systems in classical and quantum mechanics. Distinct superintegrable systems and their quadratic algebras can be related by geometric contractions, induced by Bôcher contractions of the conformal Lie algebra $\mathfrak{so}(4,\mathbb {C})$ to itself. In 2 dimensions there are two kinds of quadratic algebras, nondegenerate and degenerate. In the geometric case these correspond to 3 parameter and 1 parameter potentials, respectively. In a previous paper we classified all abstract parameter-free nondegenerate quadratic algebras in terms of canonical forms and determined which of these can be realized as quadratic algebras of 2D nondegenerate superintegrable systems on constant curvature spaces and Darboux spaces, and studied the relationship between Bôcher contractions of these systems and abstract contractions of the free quadratic algebras. Here we carry out an analogous study of abstract parameter-free degenerate quadratic algebras and their possible geometric realizations. We show that the only free degenerate quadratic algebras that can be constructed in phase space are those that arise from superintegrability. We classify all Bôcher contractions relating degenerate superintegrable systems and, separately, all abstract contractions relating free degenerate quadratic algebras. We point out the few exceptions where abstract contractions cannot be realized by the geometric Bôcher contractions.

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arXiv2017

Bôcher and Abstract Contractions of 2nd Order Quadratic Algebras

Quadratic algebras are generalizations of Lie algebras which include the symmetry algebras of 2nd order superintegrable systems in 2 dimensions as special cases. The superintegrable systems are exactly solvable physical systems in classical and quantum mechanics. Distinct superintegrable systems and their quadratic algebras can be related by geometric contractions, induced by Bôcher contractions of the conformal Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{so}}(4,\mathbb {C})$ to itself. In this paper we give a precise definition of Bôcher contractions and show how they can be classified. They subsume well known contractions of ${\mathfrak{e}}(2,\mathbb {C})$ and ${\mathfrak{so}}(3,\mathbb {C})$ and have important physical and geometric meanings, such as the derivation of the Askey scheme for obtaining all hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials as limits of Racah/Wilson polynomials. We also classify abstract nondegenerate quadratic algebras in terms of an invariant that we call a canonical form. We describe an algorithm for finding the canonical form of such algebras. We calculate explicitly all canonical forms arising from quadratic algebras of 2D nondegenerate superintegrable systems on constant curvature spaces and Darboux spaces. We further discuss contraction of quadratic algebras, focusing on those coming from superintegrable systems.

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arXiv2017

Three-body problem in 3D space: ground state, (quasi)-exact-solvability

We study aspects of the quantum and classical dynamics of a $3$-body system in 3D space with interaction depending only on mutual distances. The study is restricted to solutions in the space of relative motion which are functions of mutual distances only. It is shown that the ground state (and some other states) in the quantum case and the planar trajectories in the classical case are of this type. The quantum (and classical) system for which these states are eigenstates is found and its Hamiltonian is constructed. It corresponds to a three-dimensional quantum particle moving in a curved space with special metric. The kinetic energy of the system has a hidden $sl(4,R)$ Lie (Poisson) algebra structure, alternatively, the hidden algebra $h^{(3)}$ typical for the $H_3$ Calogero model. We find an exactly solvable three-body generalized harmonic oscillator-type potential as well as a quasi-exactly-solvable three-body sextic polynomial type potential; both models have an extra integral.

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arXiv2016

Bôcher Contractions of Conformally Superintegrable Laplace Equations

The explicit solvability of quantum superintegrable systems is due to symmetry, but the symmetry is often "hidden". The symmetry generators of 2nd order superintegrable systems in 2 dimensions close under commutation to define quadratic algebras, a generalization of Lie algebras. Distinct systems on constant curvature spaces are related by geometric limits, induced by generalized Inönü-Wigner Lie algebra contractions of the symmetry algebras of the underlying spaces. These have physical/geometric implications, such as the Askey scheme for hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials. However, the limits have no satisfactory Lie algebra contraction interpretations for underlying spaces with 1- or 0-dimensional Lie algebras. We show that these systems can be best understood by transforming them to Laplace conformally superintegrable systems, with flat space conformal symmetry group ${\rm SO}(4,{\mathbb C})$, and using ideas introduced in the 1894 thesis of Bôcher to study separable solutions of the wave equation in terms of roots of quadratic forms. We show that Bôcher's prescription for coalescing roots of these forms induces contractions of the conformal algebra $\mathfrak{so}(4,{\mathbb C})$ to itself and yields a mechanism for classifying all Helmholtz superintegrable systems and their limits. In the paper [Acta Polytechnica, to appear, arXiv:1510.09067], we announced our main findings. This paper provides the proofs and more details.

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arXiv2015

Structure Relations and Darboux Contractions for 2D 2nd Order Superintegrable Systems

Two-dimensional quadratic algebras are generalizations of Lie algebras that include the symmetry algebras of 2nd order superintegrable systems in 2 dimensions as special cases. The superintegrable systems are exactly solvable physical systems in classical and quantum mechanics. Distinct superintegrable systems and their quadratic algebras can be related by geometric contractions, induced by Inönü-Wigner type Lie algebra contractions. These geometric contractions have important physical and geometric meanings, such as obtaining classical phenomena as limits of quantum phenomena as ${\hbar}\to 0$ and nonrelativistic phenomena from special relativistic as $c\to \infty$, and the derivation of the Askey scheme for obtaining all hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials as limits of Racah/Wilson polynomials. In this paper we show how to simplify the structure relations for abstract nondegenerate and degenerate quadratic algebras and their contractions. In earlier papers we have classified contractions of 2nd order superintegrable systems on constant curvature spaces and have shown that all results are derivable from free quadratic algebras contained in the enveloping algebras of the Lie algebras $e(2,{\mathbb C})$ in flat space and $o(3,{\mathbb C})$ on nonzero constant curvature spaces. The quadratic algebra contractions are induced by generalizations of Inönü-Wigner contractions of these Lie algebras. As a special case we obtained the Askey scheme for hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials. Here we complete this theoretical development for 2D superintegrable systems by showing that the Darboux superintegrable systems are also characterized by free quadratic algebras contained in the symmetry algebras of these spaces and that their contractions are also induced by Inönü-Wigner contractions. We present tables of the contraction results.

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arXiv2013

Classical and Quantum Superintegrability with Applications

A superintegrable system is, roughly speaking, a system that allows more integrals of motion than degrees of freedom. This review is devoted to finite dimensional classical and quantum superintegrable systems with scalar potentials and integrals of motion that are polynomials in the momenta. We present a classification of second-order superintegrable systems in two-dimensional Riemannian and pseudo-Riemannian spaces. It is based on the study of the quadratic algebras of the integrals of motion and on the equivalence of different systems under coupling constant metamorphosis. The determining equations for the existence of integrals of motion of arbitrary order in real Euclidean space $E_2$ are presented and partially solved for the case of third-order integrals. A systematic exposition is given of systems in two and higher dimensional space that allow integrals of arbitrary order. The algebras of integrals of motions are not necessarily quadratic but close polynomially or rationally. The relation between superintegrability and the classification of orthogonal polynomials is analyzed.

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arXiv2011

Two-Variable Wilson Polynomials and the Generic Superintegrable System on the 3-Sphere

We show that the symmetry operators for the quantum superintegrable system on the 3-sphere with generic 4-parameter potential form a closed quadratic algebra with 6 linearly independent generators that closes at order 6 (as differential operators). Further there is an algebraic relation at order 8 expressing the fact that there are only 5 algebraically independent generators. We work out the details of modeling physically relevant irreducible representations of the quadratic algebra in terms of divided difference operators in two variables. We determine several ON bases for this model including spherical and cylindrical bases. These bases are expressed in terms of two variable Wilson and Racah polynomials with arbitrary parameters, as defined by Tratnik. The generators for the quadratic algebra are expressed in terms of recurrence operators for the one-variable Wilson polynomials. The quadratic algebra structure breaks the degeneracy of the space of these polynomials. In an earlier paper the authors found a similar characterization of one variable Wilson and Racah polynomials in terms of irreducible representations of the quadratic algebra for the quantum superintegrable system on the 2-sphere with generic 3-parameter potential. This indicates a general relationship between 2nd order superintegrable systems and discrete orthogonal polynomials.

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arXiv2009

Structure Theory for Second Order 2D Superintegrable Systems with 1-Parameter Potentials

The structure theory for the quadratic algebra generated by first and second order constants of the motion for 2D second order superintegrable systems with nondegenerate (3-parameter) and or 2-parameter potentials is well understood, but the results for the strictly 1-parameter case have been incomplete. Here we work out this structure theory and prove that the quadratic algebra generated by first and second order constants of the motion for systems with 4 second order constants of the motion must close at order three with the functional relationship between the 4 generators of order four. We also show that every 1-parameter superintegrable system is Stäckel equivalent to a system on a constant curvature space.

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