Haantjes algebras, Zernike system and separation of variables

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Kubů, Ondřej, Latini, Danilo
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Kubů, Ondřej
Latini, Danilo
author_facet Kubů, Ondřej
Latini, Danilo
contents The generalized Zernike family $H_{(N)} = p_1^2 + p_2^2 + \sum_{n=1}^N γ_n\,(q_1 p_1 + q_2 p_2)^n$ is a parametric family of two-dimensional superintegrable Hamiltonians, admitting $N$ integrals of motion of degree $N$ in the momenta. A theorem of Nozaleda, Tempesta, and Tondo guarantees that canonical separation coordinates (Darboux--Haantjes coordinates) exist for any such system; the challenge is to construct them explicitly. This paper solves the problem for $N = 2$ -- the classical Zernike system, which is canonically equivalent to the isotropic harmonic oscillator on flat space or on a space of constant curvature -- covering all four known separation types: polar, two Cartesian-type, and elliptic. The key structural fact is that the Haantjes operators associated with all integrals of $H_{(2)}$ have no momentum-dependent off-diagonal block (lift form). We prove that this implies the separation coordinates are reachable by an extended point transformation: the new positions depend only on the old positions, with no momentum entering the coordinate change. In the polar and Cartesian-type cases the new position coordinates involve at most a square root of a single-variable rational function; in the elliptic case they are given by the two roots of a quadratic polynomial in the original coordinates, and the resulting branch structure introduces a fourth regular singular point in the quantum separated ODE, placing it in the Heun class, in agreement with results of Atakishiyev, Pogosyan, Vicent, Wolf, and Yakhno. For $N \geq 3$ we prove an obstruction: no lift-form Haantjes operator can generate an integral independent of the angular momentum. The separation coordinates for higher Zernike Hamiltonians therefore require momentum-dependent canonical transformations, whose explicit construction is the subject of future work.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_23748
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Haantjes algebras, Zernike system and separation of variables
Kubů, Ondřej
Latini, Danilo
Mathematical Physics
37J35 (Primary), 70H06, 70H20, 22E60, 70G65 (Secondary)
The generalized Zernike family $H_{(N)} = p_1^2 + p_2^2 + \sum_{n=1}^N γ_n\,(q_1 p_1 + q_2 p_2)^n$ is a parametric family of two-dimensional superintegrable Hamiltonians, admitting $N$ integrals of motion of degree $N$ in the momenta. A theorem of Nozaleda, Tempesta, and Tondo guarantees that canonical separation coordinates (Darboux--Haantjes coordinates) exist for any such system; the challenge is to construct them explicitly. This paper solves the problem for $N = 2$ -- the classical Zernike system, which is canonically equivalent to the isotropic harmonic oscillator on flat space or on a space of constant curvature -- covering all four known separation types: polar, two Cartesian-type, and elliptic. The key structural fact is that the Haantjes operators associated with all integrals of $H_{(2)}$ have no momentum-dependent off-diagonal block (lift form). We prove that this implies the separation coordinates are reachable by an extended point transformation: the new positions depend only on the old positions, with no momentum entering the coordinate change. In the polar and Cartesian-type cases the new position coordinates involve at most a square root of a single-variable rational function; in the elliptic case they are given by the two roots of a quadratic polynomial in the original coordinates, and the resulting branch structure introduces a fourth regular singular point in the quantum separated ODE, placing it in the Heun class, in agreement with results of Atakishiyev, Pogosyan, Vicent, Wolf, and Yakhno. For $N \geq 3$ we prove an obstruction: no lift-form Haantjes operator can generate an integral independent of the angular momentum. The separation coordinates for higher Zernike Hamiltonians therefore require momentum-dependent canonical transformations, whose explicit construction is the subject of future work.
title Haantjes algebras, Zernike system and separation of variables
topic Mathematical Physics
37J35 (Primary), 70H06, 70H20, 22E60, 70G65 (Secondary)
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.23748