Discretization and superintegrability all rolled into one
A.V. Tsiganov

TL;DR
This paper explores a novel approach linking Abelian integrals to physical processes by interpreting fixed points as parameters for discretization or as integrals of motion, potentially enhancing understanding of integrable systems.
Contribution
It introduces a new interpretation of Abelian integrals in physics, connecting them to discretization parameters and first integrals, expanding their application scope.
Findings
Proposes a new interpretation of Abelian integrals in physical systems.
Links fixed points in Abelian integrals to discretization and integrals of motion.
Suggests potential applications in analyzing integrable systems.
Abstract
Abelian integrals arise in the mathematical description of various physical processes. According to Abel's theorem these integrals are related to motion of a set of points along a plane curve around fixed points, which are relatively little used in physics applications. We propose to interpret coordinates of the fixed points either as parameters of exact discretization or as additional first integrals for equations of motion reduced to Abelian quadratures.
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Discretization and superintegrability all rolled into one
A.V. Tsiganov
*St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
e–mail: [email protected]*
Abstract
Abelian integrals appear in mathematical descriptions of various physical processes. According to Abel’s theorem these integrals are related to motion of a set of points along a plane curve around fixed points, which are rarely used in physical applications. We propose to interpret coordinates of the fixed points either as parameters of exact discretization or as additional first integrals for equations of motion reduced to Abelian quadratures on a symmetric product of algebraic curve.
1 Introduction
Most of the nowaday applications of Abel’s theorem use Riemannian ideas and, therefore, in current textbooks Abel’s Theorem looks as follows:
Modern version of Abel’s theorem: * Let be a compact Riemann surface and be a divisor of degree zero on . Then is the divisor of a meromorphic function on if and only if =0 in the Jacobian of *.
Here DivJac is an Abel-Jacobi map, so if , there is a collection of paths from base point to points in the divisor so that
[TABLE]
This theorem has well-known roots in classical mechanics. Indeed, in 1694 James Bernoulli studied the curve for which time taken by an object sliding without friction in a uniform gravity to its lowest point is independent of its starting point, and introduced integrals which can not be expressed in terms of elementary functions. Similar integrals were discovered in attempts to rectify elliptical orbits of planets, so such integrals became known as “elliptic integrals.” Later, Euler and Lagrange provided an analytical solution to the so-called tautochrone problem and applied the addition law for elliptic integrals to search of the algebraic trajectories among transcendental ones in the two fixed center problem [4, 12].
Therefore, it is not surprising that Abel in his Mémoire [1] studies integrals of algebraic functions using rational time parametrisation of a plane curve and motion of variable points along this curve, see historical remarks in [6].
Original version of Abel’s theorem: * A set of points moving along plane curve can be subjected to a finite number of algebraic constraints in such a way that a sum of indefinite integrals*
[TABLE]
can be expressed in terms of algebraic and logarithmic functions of coordinates of the moving points provided these coordinates satisfy the constraints.
Algebraic constraints are independent of differentials and, according to Clebsch and Gordan, we can replace the ”algebraic constraints” with ”coordinates of fixed points”. Movable and fixed points form a divisor which division into two types of points allows to describe the so-called canonical injections of -fold symmetric products of algebraic curve
[TABLE]
which are compatible with the Abel-Jacobi map . In [3] Chow proposed a projective construction of the Jacobian using these injections and the Riemann theorem. This exhibited basic character of the Jacobian in a new way. It was taken up by Matsusaka and later by Grothendieck in their works on the Picard variety, see discussion in textbook [7].
Example 1
As an illustration of this generic theory we take cubic curve defined by a short Weierstrass equation
[TABLE]
and consider variable points of intersection of with a family of straight lines all passing through the same fixed point and depending on parameter
[TABLE]
In his proof of Euler’s results Lagrange identified with time and introduced equations of motion in the projective plane
[TABLE]
associated with differential of the first kind on . These equations of motion in the projective plane have an integral of motion, i.e. fixed point in Fig.1. All details of the Lagrange calculations can be found on page 144 of Greenhill’s textbook [5] and in [6].
In Clebsch and Gordan’s interpretation of Abel’s result points and form an intersection divisor of plane curves and
[TABLE]
where and are addition and linear equivalence of divisors on . There are two well-known interpretations of intersection divisor :
and form an effective divisor or the point of , whereas is a point of . In this case equation (1.4) and Fig.1. describe canonical injection so that
[TABLE] 2. 2.
, and are elements of the Jacobian of . In this case equation (1.4) and Fig.1. describe a group law of algebraic group
[TABLE]
According to Jacobi we can identify with Lagrangian submanifolds in phase space with respect to a family of compatible Poisson brackets [10]. In this case two mathematical interpretations of intersection divisor generates two physical interpretations of the corresponding Poisson maps:
and describe evolution of some dynamical system with two degrees of freedom with respect to time , whereas coordinates of are integrals of motion (superintegrable systems); 2. 2.
, are states of some dynamical system with one degree of freedom at and , whereas fixed point plays the role of discretization step (integrable discrete maps).
The first interpretation appeared in the Euler and Lagrange investigations of the two-center problem. The second interpretation is closely related with so-called Bc̈klund transformations of the Hamilton-Jacoby equation.
There is one algebraic group associated with curve and only two families of Poisson maps generated by addition and multiplication on the Jacobian. Canonical injections
[TABLE]
generate many other Poisson maps which properties have not been studied till now. Nevertheless, we have some examples of application of these maps for studying relations between various integrable system [19, 20, 21] and constructing new integrable systems [22, 23, 24, 25].
There are also other relations between symmetric products of algebraic curve
[TABLE]
without restriction , which can be used in classical mechanics.
Example 2
Let us take a family of parabolas
[TABLE]
all passing through the same fixed point and depending on parameter , see Fig.2.
The equation for is obtained by multiplying the equations for straight line by and shifting the ordinate by an arbitrary parameter .
At any five points lie on parabola and movable points satisfy
[TABLE]
Fixed point does not belong to and, therefore, equation (1.5) does not include this point in contrast with equation (1.4). This equation and Fig.2. determine a mapping so that
[TABLE]
In [24] we applied this map to construction of a new integrable system on a plane with two integrals of motion which are polynomials of second and six order in momenta.
In this note we continue to discuss applications of equations (1.4) and (1.5) in classical mechanics. Our main aim is to draw attention to the possibilities of using well-known and no-so-well-known relations between symmetric products of the algebraic curves in classical mechanics that are not inferior to the possibilities of using group operations on Jacobian, torsion subgroup actions on Jacobian, isogenies of Jacobians, etc. All the examples below will be related to cubic curve in the Weierstrass form (1.2) in order to discuss the most simplest integrable systems.
2 Abel’s sums with holomorphic differentials
Let us rewrite equation (1.4) in its expanded form. At any time coordinates of two points and determine coefficients
[TABLE]
and coordinates of third point
[TABLE]
In classical mechanics coordinates of movable points and can be identified:
- •
for dynamical system with one degree of freedom with coordinates on phase space at two different times
[TABLE]
- •
for dynamical system with two degrees of freedom with coordinates and on phase space at the same time
[TABLE]
In the first case we rewrite equation (1.4) in the form
[TABLE]
and interpret it as a discrete map depending on some fixed parameter .
In the second case we rewrite equation (1.4) in the form
[TABLE]
and interpret it as a definition of the additional first integral .
Thus, discretization and superintegrability have all combined into one arithmetic equation in Div.
2.1 Integrable discrete map
Let us identify with Lagrangian submanifold in phase space and consider Lagrange equation of motion (1.3) on a cubic curve (1.2)
[TABLE]
This equation appears when we take the Hamilton function
[TABLE]
and canonical Poisson brackets , which define Hamiltonian equations of motion
[TABLE]
At these equations are reduced to (1.3).
The same Lagrange equation (1.3) appears when we consider the motion of the symmetric heavy top. In the Lagrange case equation for nutation
[TABLE]
is also reduced to (1.3), see[12] and [9]. Here and are the values of the corresponding integrals of motion.
According [26, 27] equation (1.4) is a finite-difference equation, which determine exact two-point discretization of equations of motion (2.10) or (2.11). Indeed, substituting (2.7) and , , into (2.6) one gets
[TABLE]
If we also put in and , we obtain an iterative system of 2-point invertible mappings depending on a family of parameters
[TABLE]
It is the so-called exact discretization of the equations of motion (2.10) preserving the form of integrals of motion and Poisson bracket, see e.g. [23, 24, 26, 27, 29].
Proposition 1
Equation (1.4) in Div yields an integrable discrete map on phase space , dim, preserving the form of integrals of motion and the canonical Poisson bracket.
Here we explicitly present the exact discretization of motion in cubic potential and of motion of the Lagrange top associated with elliptic curve in the Weierstrass form (1.2). In similar way we can take an elliptic curve in the Jacobi form
[TABLE]
and obtain exact discretization of the Duffing oscillator [26, 27] and of the Euler top [28].
2.2 Superintegrable system with two degrees of freedom
Let symmetric product be a Lagrangian submanifold in phase space . If we identify abscissas and ordinates of points and with canonical coordinates (2.8) on phase space and solve a pair of equations (1.2)
[TABLE]
with respect to and , we obtain two functions on the phase space
[TABLE]
which are in involution with respect to the canonical Poisson bracket
[TABLE]
Taking as a Hamiltonian, one gets integrable system on phase space with Hamiltonian equations of motion
[TABLE]
which are reduced to quadratures
[TABLE]
and
[TABLE]
According Euler and Lagrange [4, 12], the first quadrature determines parameterization of trajectories, whereas the second quadrature determines the form of trajectories. Thus, we can use first quadrature for discretization of time variable and second quadrature to the search of algebraic trajectories associated with additional algebraic integral of motion.
We identify second quadrature (2.16) and the corresponding Abel’s sum with equation (1.4)
[TABLE]
Substituting (2.8) and , , into (2.6) one gets additional first integrals of equations of motion (2.14)
[TABLE]
Functions (2.13) and functions (2.17) on phase space form an algebra of integrals
[TABLE]
in which Weierstrass equation (1.2) plays the role of syzygy
[TABLE]
Proposition 2
Equation (1.4) in Div describes a representation of the algebra of integrals (2.18), i.e. superintegrable system on phase space , dim.
First equation in (2.17) is nothing more than an additional law for the Weierstrass function
[TABLE]
and, therefore, algebra of the first integrals coincides with well-know relations between Weierstrass -function and its derivatives, see [2, 5, 8].
After canonical transformation of variables
[TABLE]
these first integrals look like
[TABLE]
Similar superintegrable systems on the plane with quadratic Hamiltonians
[TABLE]
and cubic first integrals are discussed in [13, 16, 17].
2.3 Other representations of the algebra of first integrals
Below we consider the arithmetic equation
[TABLE]
and Abel’s sum with holomorphic differentials involving more than three terms
[TABLE]
Different exact discretizations of Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian equations of motion associated with such arithmetic equations in Div are discussed in [23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29].
Superintegrable systems associated with the same arithmetic equations are discussed in [30, 31]. These superintegrable systems can be considered as different representations of the algebra of integrals (2.18)
[TABLE]
labelled by two integers and . Here is a derivative of function from the definition of elliptic curve . Indeed, let us make a trivial non-canonical transformation
[TABLE]
in the separated relations (2.12) [30]. Solving the new separated relations
[TABLE]
with respect to and , we obtain two functions on the phase space
[TABLE]
which are in involution with respect to the canonical Poisson bracket. Taking as a Hamiltonian, one gets Hamiltonian equations of motion (2.14 )
[TABLE]
Substituting and from (2.19) into (2.21) we obtain equations
[TABLE]
which are reduced to quadratures
[TABLE]
and
[TABLE]
Second quadrature is the homogeneous Abel’s sum associated with an arithmetic equation in Div
[TABLE]
Coordinates of the fixed point
[TABLE]
are functions on the phase space commuting with Hamiltonian (2.20). Here and are affine coordinates of point on the projective plane defined by well-known equation
[TABLE]
where are the so-called division or torsion polynomials in a ring , see [11, 32]. The first four polynomials are defined explicitly as
[TABLE]
the subsequent polynomials are defined inductively as
[TABLE]
Using these division polynomials we can easily calculate integrals of motion (2.23). For instance, at and additional first integral is a rational function of the form
[TABLE]
At and the additional first integral is equal to
[TABLE]
where
[TABLE]
and
[TABLE]
In both cases of and four integrals of motion (2.20) and (2.23) form the algebra of integrals (2.18), same as in the previous case at .
We conjecture this is to be true for general and .
Proposition 3
Equation (2.22) in Div describes representation of the algebra of integrals (2.18) labelled by two integers and , i.e. superintegrable system on phase space , dim.
Other examples of superintegrable systems associated with Abel’s sums including holomorphic differentials may be found in [16, 17, 18, 30, 31].
3 Abel’s sums with non-holomorphic differentials
Let us consider the motion of parabola defined by an equation of the form
[TABLE]
around fixed point , see Fig.2. If and are two movable intersection points of parabola with cubic curve (1.2), then
[TABLE]
due to Lagrange interpolation of parabola using three points and .
Equation (1.5)
[TABLE]
can be considered as a discrete map in Div
[TABLE]
because coordinates of the remaining two movable points and are easily expressed via and . Indeed, according to Abel [1] abscissas and are roots of the so-called Abel polynomial
[TABLE]
whereas ordinates and are equal to
[TABLE]
As mentioned above, discrete map in Div generates an integrable discrete map on phase space .
3.1 Integrable discrete map
Let us come back to the integrable system with two degrees of freedom defined by the following integrals of motion (2.13)
[TABLE]
These integrals are in the involution with respect to the Poisson brackets
[TABLE]
labelled by two arbitrary functions . The corresponding Poisson bivector reads as
[TABLE]
Taking as a Hamiltonian, one gets an integrable system on the phase space with Hamiltonian equations of motion (2.14) which are reduced to quadratures (2.15) and (2.16).
In the previous Section we use second quadrature (2.16), i.e. Abel’s sum with the holomorphic differential on
[TABLE]
to construct the additional first integrals. These integrals and coincide with coordinates of the fixed point on , the existence of additional algebraic integral of motion guarantees an existence of algebraic trajectories, see Euler paper [4].
In order to construct a discrete integrable map we have to take first quadrature (2.15), i.e. Abel’s sum with non-holomorphic differentials
[TABLE]
and interpret equation (1.5)
[TABLE]
as a discrete map relating pairs of movable points at and , respectively:
[TABLE]
For brevity, we omit dependence on time below.
Thus, let us identify variables on phase space with affine coordinates of two movable points and on a projective plane
[TABLE]
Coordinates of remaining movable points and are some other variables on
[TABLE]
Here we change sign before ordinates in order to rewrite the equation (1.5) in the following form
[TABLE]
At in (3.25) and (3.26) one gets
[TABLE]
and
[TABLE]
where
[TABLE]
Thus, we have an integrable discrete map on the phase space
[TABLE]
preserving form of the integrals of motion (2.13) and form of the following Poisson bivector
[TABLE]
which belongs to a family of compatible Poisson bivectors (3.27).
Proposition 4
Equation (1.5) in Div yields an integrable discrete map , dim, preserving the form of integrals of motion and one of the compatible Poisson bivectors (3.27).
Other examples of the Poisson maps associated with differentials and on an elliptic curve may be found in [22].
3.2 Construction of integrable systems with higher order polynomial integrals of motion
Let us identify symmetric product with Lagrangian submanifold in phase space such that affine coordinates of movable points are expressed via canonical variables on in the following way
[TABLE]
and
[TABLE]
Then we determine canonical transformation preserving standard Poisson bivector
[TABLE]
This canonical transformation is defined by the same relations (3.24), (3.25) and (3.26).
Usually coordinates are standard curvilinear orthogonal coordinates on the plane, sphere or ellipsoid, whereas new canonical coordinates and are images of the curvilinear coordinates after some integrable Poisson maps. In [22, 23, 24, 25, 29] we used these coordinates to construct new integrable systems in the framework of the Jacobi method.
For instance, let us take coordinates and momenta defined by (3.25-3.26)
[TABLE]
Substituting these variables into the separated relations
[TABLE]
one gets integrable systems with polynomial integrals of motion
[TABLE]
and
[TABLE]
which are polynomials of second and fourth order in momenta. It is easy to prove that this Hamiltonian has no integrals of motion which are polynomials of first, second and third order in momenta.
Integrable metric
[TABLE]
belongs to a family of integrable and superintegrable metrics from [22]. Here we add new potential to the known kinetic energy .
Thus, we obtain a new non-trivial integrable system on a plane with natural quadratic Hamiltonian and quartic second integral of motion. This systems belongs to a family of two-dimensional integrable systems with position-dependent mass (PDM), which has various applications in physics, see [14, 15] and references within. Using the proposed approach we can construct other new PDM systems with integrals of motion which are polynomials of second, third, fourth and even sixth order in momenta.
4 Conclusion
In modern textbooks Abel’s theorem provides the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of meromorphic functions with prescribed zeros and poles on a compact Riemann surface . As is well known, this problem is equivalent to existence of a parallel section for some complex connection in the holomorphic line bundle of the divisor. It is far from anything in Abel’s original works, although we continue to call it the Abel theorem.
If we come back to original Abel’s theorem we can find many applications of this theorem in physics. Indeed, many equations of mathematical physics are reduced to Abel’s quadratures using orthogonal curvilinear coordinates or more exotic variables, for instance, variables of separation for the Kowalevski top. Starting with these well-known systems we can get new integrable systems and discrete maps by using the proposed approach.
In classical mechanics there are integrable systems with a common level set of first integrals, which can be identified with a generalized Jacobian , which is a commutative algebraic group. To study these systems we can use various properties of such as group operations, torsion subgroup actions, isogenies, etc.
There are also integrable systems with a common level set of first integrals, which can be identified with symmetric products of curve , which have no a group structure. Nevertheless, varieties and their canonical injections are classical objects of study in algebraic geometry, and it would be natural to expect to find various applications of these well-studied algebro-geometric tools in classical mechanics. Unfortunately, we could not find such applications in the current literature. In this note we try to fill this gap starting with the simplest cubic curve, its symmetric products and its Jacobian.
The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project 18-01-00916).
The reference list from the paper itself. Each links out to its DOI / PubMed record.
- 1[1] Abel N. H., Mémoire sure une propriété générale d’une classe très éntendue de fonctions transcendantes, Oeuvres complétes, Tom I, Grondahl Son, Christiania (1881), pages 145-211, available from http://archive.org/details/O Euvres Completes De Niels Henrik Abel 1881_12/page/n 167
- 2[2] Cayley A., An elementary treatise on elliptic functions, Cambridge: Deighton, Bell and Co, (1876).
- 3[3] Chow W.L., The Jacobian variety of an algebraic curve , American Journal of Mathematics, v. 76, p. 453-476, (1954).
- 4[4] Euler L., Probleme un corps étant attiré en raison réciproque quarrée des distances vers deux points fixes donnés, trouver les cas oú la courbe décrite par ce corps sera algébrique , Mémoires de l’academie des sciences de Berlin v.16, pp. 228-249, (1767). available from http://eulerarchive.maa.org/docs/originals/E 337.pdf
- 5[5] Greenhill A.G., The applications of elliptic functions, Macmillan and Co, London, (1892). available from http://archive.org/details/applicationsell 00greegoog/page/n 7
- 6[6] Griffiths P., The Legacy of Abel in Algebraic Geometry , in The Legacy of Niels Henrik Abel, Ed. Laudal and Piene, pp. 179-205, Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg, (2004).
- 7[7] Gunning R.C., Lectures on Riemann surfaces-Jacobi varieties, Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J., 1972.
- 8[8] Hensel K., Landsberg G., Theorie der algebraischen Funktionen einer Variabeln und ihre Anwendung auf algebraische Kurven und Abelsche Integrale, Leipzig, Teubner, (1902). available from http://archive.org/details/theoriederalgebr 00hensuoft/page/n 5
