Non-compact symmetric spaces and the Toda molecule equations (Q1069189)

It has been shown by Olshanetsky and Perelomov that the Toda molecule (TM) equations associated with any Lie group G describe special geodesic motions on the Riemannian noncompact symmetric space which is the quotient of the normal real form of G, \(G^ N\), by its maximal compact subgroup K. Our purpose in this paper is to develop this geometrical picture further and understand how it relates to the integrability properties of the TM models. The central point in our analysis is that due to the Iwasawa decomposition of \(G^ N\) there is a one to one correspondence between points of \(G^ N/K\) and elements of the Borel subgroup B of \(G^ N/K\) and elements of the Borel subgroup \(B\) of \(G^ N\). This endows the symmetric space with a hidden group theoretic structure which plays an essential role in the integrability of the TM models. We show that right translations of elements of \(B^ N\) by elements of \(B\) is a broken symmetry of the Lagrangian and the corresponding nonconserved charges are the components of the Lax operator A. The algebra of these charges under the Poisson bracket is the algebra of \(B\) and using this we construct the ''fundamental Poisson bracket relation'' (FPR) involving A. This FPR can be written in the form of a classical Yang-Baxter equation. The reduction is done using the conserved charges associated to the left translations of elements of \(G^ N\) by elements of the nilpotent subgroup of \(B\) and we show that the solutions of the TM equations correspond to those geodesics on \(G^ N/K\) where these charges are in involution.