English

When is an axisymmetric potential separable?

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2013-10-22 v2 Mathematical Physics math.MP Classical Physics

Abstract

An axially symmetric potential psi(R,z)=psi(r,theta) is completely separable if the ratio s:k is constant. Here r*s=d^2(r^2*psi)/dr/d(theta) and k=d^2(psi)/dR/dz. If beta=s/k, then the potential admits an integral of the form of I=(L^2+beta*v_z^2)/2+xi where xi is some function of positions determined by the potential psi. More generally, an axially symmetric potential respects the third axisymmetric integral of motion -- in addition to the classical integrals of the Hamiltonian and the axial component of the angular momentum -- if there exist three real constants a,b,c (not all simultaneously zero, a^2+b^2+c^2>0) such that a*s+b*h+c*k=0 where r*h=d^2(r*psi)/d(sigma)/d(tau) and (sigma,tau) is the parabolic coordinate in the meridional plane such that sigma^2=r+z and tau^2=r-z.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1307.6933,
  title  = {When is an axisymmetric potential separable?},
  author = {J. An},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1307.6933},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

to appear in MNRAS (including 2 figures and appedices); minor revision corrected for typos etc

R2 v1 2026-06-22T00:58:12.651Z