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

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 B\^ocher 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 B\^ocher 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 B\^ocher 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 B\^ocher contractions

Separation of variables and the XXZ Gaudin magnet

In this work we generalise previous results connecting (rational) Gaudin magnet models and classical separation of variables. It is shown that the connection persists for the case of linear r-matrix algebra which corresponds to the trigonometric 4x4 r-matrix (of the XXZ type). We comment also on the corresponding problem for the elliptic (XYZ) r-matrix. A prescription for obtaining integrable systems associated with multiple poles of an L-operator is given.Comment: 11 pages, AMS-Te

Tools for Verifying Classical and Quantum Superintegrability

Recently many new classes of integrable systems in n dimensions occurring in classical and quantum mechanics have been shown to admit a functionally independent set of 2n-1 symmetries polynomial in the canonical momenta, so that they are in fact superintegrable. These newly discovered systems are all separable in some coordinate system and, typically, they depend on one or more parameters in such a way that the system is superintegrable exactly when some of the parameters are rational numbers. Most of the constructions to date are for n=2 but cases where n>2 are multiplying rapidly. In this article we organize a large class of such systems, many new, and emphasize the underlying mechanisms which enable this phenomena to occur and to prove superintegrability. In addition to proofs of classical superintegrability we show that the 2D caged anisotropic oscillator and a Stackel transformed version on the 2-sheet hyperboloid are quantum superintegrable for all rational relative frequencies, and that a deformed 2D Kepler-Coulomb system is quantum superintegrable for all rational values of a parameter k in the potential