On the Integrability of Circulatory Systems

Abstract

This paper discusses conditions for the existence of polynomial (in velocities) first integrals of the equations of motion of mechanical systems in a nonpotential force field (circulatory systems). These integrals are assumed to be single-valued smooth functions on the phase space of the system (on the space of the tangent bundle of a smooth configuration manifold). It is shown that, if the genus of the closed configuration manifold of such a system with two degrees of freedom is greater than unity, then the equations of motion admit no nonconstant single-valued polynomial integrals. Examples are given of circulatory systems with configuration space in the form of a sphere and a torus which have nontrivial polynomial laws of conservation. Some unsolved problems involved in these phenomena are discussed.