Higher order first integrals, Killing tensors and Killing-Maxwell system

Higher order first integrals of motion of particles in the presence of external gauge fields in a covariant Hamiltonian approach are investigated. The special role of Stackel-Killing and Killing-Yano tensors is pointed out. A condition of the electromagnetic field to maintain the hidden symmetry of the system is stated. A concrete realization of this condition is given by the Killing-Maxwell system and exemplified with the Kerr metric. Another application of the gauge covariant approach is provided by a non relativistic point charge in the field of a Dirac monopole. The corresponding dynamical system possessing a Kepler type symmetry is associated with the Taub-NUT metric using a reduction procedure of symplectic manifolds with symmetries. The reverse of the reduction procedure can be used to investigate higher-dimensional spacetimes admitting Killing tensors.