Completely integrable gradient flows (Q1200475)

Special gradient flows on compact Lie groups are considered which are related to ``double bracket'' Lax formulations of the form \(L_ t=[L,[L,N]]\). Invariant subspaces are characterized. The Toda lattice equations are identified as such gradient flows, the double bracket formulation is constructed for the classical Lie algebras. The Hamiltonian structure relative to the coadjoint symplectic form is discussed. The equilibria of the double bracket equation are shown to be the vertices of a convex polytope which is the image of a momentum mapping. Further, the double bracket flows are shown to sort the eigenvalues of the Lax matrix in a prescribed fashion.