Darboux Spaces Research Articles

On polynomial symmetry algebras underlying superintegrable systems in Darboux spaces

We review three different approaches to polynomial symmetry algebras underlying superintegrable systems in Darboux spaces. The first method consists of using deformed oscillator algebra to obtain finite-dimensional representations of quadratic algebras. This allow one to gain information on the spectrum of the superintegrable systems. The second method has similarities with the induced module construction approach in the context of Lie algebras and can be used to construct infinite dimensional representations of the symmetry algebras. Explicit construction of these representations is a non-trivial task due to the non-linearity of the polynomial algebras. This method allows the construction of states of the superintegrable systems beyond the reach of separation of variables. As a result, we are able to construct a large number of states in terms of Airy, Bessel and Whittaker functions which would be difficult to obtain in other ways. We also discuss the third approach which is based on the notion of commutants of subalgebras in the enveloping algebra of a Poisson algebra or a Lie algebra. This allows us to discover new superintegrable models in the Darboux spaces and to construct their integrals and symmetry algebras via polynomials in the enveloping algebras.

Algebraic approach and exact solutions of superintegrable systems in 2D Darboux spaces

Abstract Superintegrable systems in two-dimensional (2D) Darboux spaces were classified and it was found that there exist 12 distinct classes of superintegrable systems with quadratic integrals of motion (and quadratic symmetry algebras generated by the integrals) in the Darboux spaces. In this paper, we obtain exact solutions via purely algebraic means for the energies of all the 12 existing classes of superintegrable systems in four different 2D Darboux spaces. This is achieved by constructing the deformed oscillator realization and finite-dimensional irreducible representation of the underlying quadratic symmetry algebra generated by quadratic integrals respectively for each of the 12 superintegrable systems. We also introduce generic cubic and quintic algebras, generated respectively by linear and quadratic integrals and linear and cubic integrals, and obtain their Casimir operators and deformed oscillator realizations. As examples of applications, we present three classes of new superintegrable systems with cubic symmetry algebras in 2D Darboux spaces.

Superintegrable systems in non-Euclidean plane: Hidden symmetries leading to linearity

Nineteen classical superintegrable systems in two-dimensional non-Euclidean spaces are shown to possess hidden symmetries leading to their linearization. They are the two Perlick systems [Ballesteros et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 25, 165005 (2008)], the Taub–NUT system [Ballesteros et al., SIGMA 7, 048 (2011)], and all the 17 superintegrable systems for the four types of Darboux spaces as determined by Kalnins et al. [J. Math. Phys. 44, 5811–5848 (2003)].

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.

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 B\^ocher contractions of the conformal Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{so}}(4,\mathbb {C})$ to itself. In this paper we give a precise definition of B\^ocher 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.

Path integral for Koenigs spaces

I discuss a path-integral approach for the quantum motion on two-dimensional spaces according to Koenigs, for short “Koenigs spaces”. Their construction is simple: one takes a Hamiltonian from a two-dimensional flat space and divides it by a two-dimensional superintegrable potential. These superintegrable potentials are the isotropic singular oscillator, the Holt potential, and the Coulomb potential. In all cases, a nontrivial space of nonconstant curvature is generated. We can study free motion and the motion with an additional superintegrable potential. For possible bound-state solutions, we find in all three cases an equation of the eighth order in the energy E. The special cases of the Darboux spaces are easily recovered by choosing the parameters accordingly.

Path integral approach for superintegrable potentials on spaces of non-constant curvature: II. Darboux spaces D III and D IV

This is the second paper on the path integral approach of superintegrable systems on Darboux spaces, spaces of non-constant curvature. We analyze five and four superintegrable potentials in the spaces D III and D IV, respectively; these potentials were first given by Kalnins et al. We are able to evaluate the path integral in most of the separating coordinate systems, leading to expressions for the Green’s functions, the discrete and continuous wavefunctions, and the discrete energy spectra. In some cases, however, the discrete spectrum cannot be stated explicitly because it is determined by a higher-order polynomial equation. We also show that the free motion in a Darboux space of type III can contain bound states, provided the boundary conditions are appropriate. We can state the corresponding energy spectrum and the wavefunctions.

Path integral approach for superintegrable potentials on spaces of nonconstant curvature: I. Darboux spaces D I and D II

In this paper, the Feynman path integral technique is applied for superintegrable potentials on two-dimensional spaces of nonconstant curvature: these spaces are Darboux spaces D I and D II. On D I, there are three, and on D II four such potentials. We are able to evaluate the path integral in most of the separating coordinate systems, leading to expressions for the Green functions, the discrete and continuous wave-functions, and the discrete energy-spectra. In some cases, however, the discrete spectrum cannot be stated explicitly, because it is either determined by a transcendental equation involving parabolic cylinder functions (Darboux space I), or by a higher order polynomial equation. The solutions on D I in particular show that superintegrable systems are not necessarily degenerate. We can also show how the limiting cases of flat space (constant curvature zero) and the two-dimensional hyperboloid (constant negative curvature) emerge.

Path integral approach for spaces of nonconstant curvature in three dimensions

In this contribution, I show that it is possible to construct three-dimensional spaces of nonconstant curvature, i.e., three-dimensional Darboux spaces. Two-dimensional Darboux spaces have been introduced by Kalnins et al., with a path integral approach by the present author. In comparison to two dimensions, in three dimensions it is necessary to add a curvature term in the Lagrangian in order that the quantum motion can be properly defined. Once this is done, it turns out that, in the two three-dimensional Darboux spaces which are discussed in this paper, the quantum motion is similar to the two-dimensional case. In D 3d-I, we find seven coordinate systems which separate the Schrödinger equation. For the second space, D 3d-II, all coordinate systems of flat three-dimensional Euclidean space which separate the Schrödinger equation also separate the Schrödinger equation in D 3d-II. I solve the path integral on D 3d-I in the (u, v, w) system and on D 3d-II in the (u, v, w) system and in spherical coordinates.

Path integration on Darboux spaces

In this paper, the Feynman path integral technique is applied to two-dimensional spaces of nonconstant curvature: these spaces are called Darboux spaces D I-D IV. We start each consideration in terms of the metric and then analyze the quantum theory in the separable coordinate systems. The path integral in each case is formulated and then solved in the majority of cases; the exceptions being the quartic oscillators where no closed solution is known. The required ingredients are the path integral solutions of the linear potential, the harmonic oscillator, the radial harmonic oscillator, the modified Pöschl-Teller potential, and the spheroidal wave functions. The basic path integral solutions, which appear here in a complicated way, have been developed in recent work and are known. The final solutions are represented in terms of the corresponding Green’s functions and the expansions into the wave functions. We also sketch some limiting cases of the Darboux spaces, where spaces of constant negative and zero curvature emerge.

Superintegrable systems in Darboux spaces

Almost all research on superintegrable potentials concerns spaces of constant curvature. In this paper we find by exhaustive calculation, all superintegrable potentials in the four Darboux spaces of revolution that have at least two integrals of motion quadratic in the momenta, in addition to the Hamiltonian. These are two-dimensional spaces of nonconstant curvature. It turns out that all of these potentials are equivalent to superintegrable potentials in complex Euclidean 2-space or on the complex 2-sphere, via “coupling constant metamorphosis” (or equivalently, via Stäckel multiplier transformations). We present a table of the results.