Algebraic Closed Geodesics on a Triaxial Ellipsoid

We propose a simple method of explicit description of families of closed geodesics on a triaxial ellipsoid $Q$ that are cut out by algebraic surfaces in ${\mathbb R}^3$. Such geodesics are either connected components of spatial elliptic curves or rational curves. Our approach is based on elements of the Weierstrass--Poncar\'e reduction theory for hyperelliptic tangential covers of elliptic curves and the addition law for elliptic functions. For the case of 3-fold and 4-fold coverings, explicit formulas for the cutting algebraic surfaces are provided and some properties of the corresponding geodesics are discussed.Comment: 15 figure

Integrable flows and Backlund transformations on extended Stiefel varieties with application to the Euler top on the Lie group SO(3)

We show that the $m$-dimensional Euler--Manakov top on $so^*(m)$ can be represented as a Poisson reduction of an integrable Hamiltonian system on a symplectic extended Stiefel variety $\bar{\cal V}(k,m)$, and present its Lax representation with a rational parameter. We also describe an integrable two-valued symplectic map $\cal B$ on the 4-dimensional variety ${\cal V}(2,3)$. The map admits two different reductions, namely, to the Lie group SO(3) and to the coalgebra $so^*(3)$. The first reduction provides a discretization of the motion of the classical Euler top in space and has a transparent geometric interpretation, which can be regarded as a discrete version of the celebrated Poinsot model of motion and which inherits some properties of another discrete system, the elliptic billiard. The reduction of $\cal B$ to $so^*(3)$ gives a new explicit discretization of the Euler top in the angular momentum space, which preserves first integrals of the continuous system.Comment: 18 pages, 1 Figur

Separation of variables and explicit theta-function solution of the classical Steklov--Lyapunov systems: A geometric and algebraic geometric background

The paper revises the explicit integration of the classical Steklov--Lyapunov systems via separation of variables, which was first made by F. K\"otter in 1900, but was not well understood until recently. We give a geometric interpretation of the separating variables and then, applying the Weierstrass hyperelliptic root functions, obtain explicit theta-function solution to the problem. We also analyze the structure of its poles on the corresponding Abelian variety. This enables us to obtain a solution for an alternative set of phase variables of the systems that has a specific compact form.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Nonholonomic LR systems as Generalized Chaplygin systems with an Invariant Measure and Geodesic Flows on Homogeneous Spaces

We consider a class of dynamical systems on a Lie group $G$ with a left-invariant metric and right-invariant nonholonomic constraints (so called LR systems) and show that, under a generic condition on the constraints, such systems can be regarded as generalized Chaplygin systems on the principle bundle $G \to Q=G/H$, $H$ being a Lie subgroup. In contrast to generic Chaplygin systems, the reductions of our LR systems onto the homogeneous space $Q$ always possess an invariant measure. We study the case $G=SO(n)$, when LR systems are multidimensional generalizations of the Veselova problem of a nonholonomic rigid body motion, which admit a reduction to systems with an invariant measure on the (co)tangent bundle of Stiefel varieties $V(k,n)$ as the corresponding homogeneous spaces. For $k=1$ and a special choice of the left-invariant metric on SO(n), we prove that under a change of time, the reduced system becomes an integrable Hamiltonian system describing a geodesic flow on the unit sphere $S^{n-1}$. This provides a first example of a nonholonomic system with more than two degrees of freedom for which the celebrated Chaplygin reducibility theorem is applicable. In this case we also explicitly reconstruct the motion on the group SO(n).Comment: 39 pages, the proof of Lemma 4.3 and some references are added, to appear in Journal of Nonlinear Scienc

Sigma-function solution to the general Somos-6 recurrence via hyperelliptic Prym varieties

We construct the explicit solution of the initial value problem for sequences generated by the general Somos-6 recurrence relation, in terms of the Kleinian sigma-function of genus two. For each sequence there is an associated genus two curve $X$, such that iteration of the recurrence corresponds to translation by a fixed vector in the Jacobian of $X$. The construction is based on a Lax pair with a spectral curve $S$ of genus four admitting an involution $\sigma$ with two fixed points, and the Jacobian of $X$ arises as the Prym variety Prym $(S,\sigma)$

An ellipsoidal billiard with a quadratic potential

There exists an in infite hierarchy of integrable generalizations of the geodesic flow on an n -di- mensional ellipsoid.hese generalizations describe the motion of a point in the force fields of certain polynomial potentials.In the limit as one of semiaxes of the ellipsoidtends to zero,one obtains inte- grable mappings corresponding to billiards with polynomial potentials inside an (n+1)-dimensional ellipsoid. In this paper, for the first time we give explicit expressions for the ellipsoidal billiard with a quadratic (Hooke)potential,its representation in Lax form,and a theta function solution.We also indicate the generating function of the restriction of the potential billiard map to a level set of an energy type integral. The methodwe use to obtain theta function solutions is different from those applied earlier and is based on the calculation of limit values of meromorphic functions on generalized Jacobians

The Hydrodynamic Chaplygin Sleigh

We consider the motion of rigid bodies in a potential fluid subject to certain nonholonomic constraints and show that it is described by Euler--Poincar\'e--Suslov equations. In the 2-dimensional case, when the constraint is realized by a blade attached to the body, the system provides a hydrodynamic generalization of the Chaplygin sleigh, whose dynamics are studied in detail. Namely, the equations of motion are integrated explicitly and the asymptotic behavior of the system is determined. It is shown how the presence of the fluid brings new features to such a behavior.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure