First integrals of systems with gyroscopic forces (Q1079388)

Hamiltonian systems with two degrees of freedom are constructed with topological obstacles that preclude other than the Jacobi first integral. Let M be the configuration space of the system, T be the kinetic energy specified by a Riemannian metric on M, V be the potential energy, and \(\Gamma\) be a 2-form on M that defines gyroscopic forces. The set (M,T,V,\(\Gamma)\) defines a dynamical system whose orbits satisfy the variational principle \[ \delta \int (T-V)dt+\int \Gamma (\dot q,\delta q)dt=0. \] Such systems necessarily admit the Jacobi first integral \(H=T+V=h\). Let T and \(\Gamma\) be of class \(C^ 2\), \(\dim (M)=2\), and V be of class \(C^ 2\) except for n points in M where V has singularities of Newton type. The inclusion of gyroscopic forces is essential, as shown by the author's theorem 3: If M is compact, \(n=2\chi (M)\), and \(\iint_{M}\Gamma \neq 0\), then there exist no nonconstant first integrals that are polynomial with respect to velocity on an energy surface \(H=h>\max_ M(V)\).