Deformation of Lie–Poisson algebras and chirality

Abstract

Linearization of a Hamiltonian system around an equilibrium point yields a set of Hamiltonian symmetric spectra: If λ is an eigenvalue of the linearized generator, −λ and λ¯ (hence, −λ¯) are also eigenvalues—the former implies a time-reversal symmetry, while the latter guarantees the reality of the solution. However, linearization around a singular equilibrium point (which commonly exists in noncanonical Hamiltonian systems) works out differently, resulting in breaking of the Hamiltonian symmetry of spectra; time-reversal asymmetry causes chirality. This interesting phenomenon was first found in analyzing the chiral motion of the rattleback, a boat-shaped top having misaligned axes of inertia and geometry [Z. Yoshida et al., Phys. Lett. A 381, 2772–2777 (2017)]. To elucidate how chiral spectra are generated, we study the three-dimensional Lie–Poisson systems and classify the prototypes of singularities that cause symmetry breaking. The central idea is the deformation of the underlying Lie algebra; invoking Bianchi’s list of all three-dimensional Lie algebras, we show that the so-called class-B algebras, which are produced by asymmetric deformations of the simple algebra so(3), yield chiral spectra when linearized around their singularities. The theory of deformation is generalized to higher dimensions, including the infinite-dimensional Poisson manifolds relevant to fluid mechanics.