Published April 29, 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Two-dimensional dynamical systems which admit Lie and Noether symmetries

  • 1. Faculty of Physics, Department of Astrophysics-Astronomy-Mechanics, University of Athens, Panepistemiopolis, Athens 157 83 (Greece)

Description

We consider a dynamical system moving in a Riemannian space and prove two theorems which relate the Lie point symmetries and Noether symmetries of the equation of motion, with the special projective group and the homothetic group of the space respectively. These theorems are used to classify the two-dimensional Newtonian dynamical systems, which admit Lie point/Noether symmetries. The results of the study, i.e. expressions of forces/potentials, Lie symmetries, Noether vectors and Noether integrals are presented in the form of tables for easy reference and convenience. Two cases are considered, Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian systems. The results are used to determine the Lie/Noether symmetries of two different systems. The Kepler-Ermakov system, which in general is non-conservative, and the conservative system with potential similar to the Henon-Heiles potential. As an additional application, we consider the scalar field cosmologies in a FRW background with no matter, and look for the scalar field potentials for which the resulting cosmological models are integrable. It is found that the only integrable scalar field cosmologies are defined by the exponential and the unified dark matter potential. It is to be noted that in all aforementioned applications the Lie/Noether symmetry vectors are found by simply reading the appropriate entry in the relevant tables.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1751-8113/44/17/175202

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/44/17/175202;
PII
S1751-8113(11)78914-4;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Physics. A, Mathematical and Theoretical (Online)
Journal Volume
44
Journal Issue
17
Journal Page Range
[21 p.]
ISSN
1751-8121