Statistical dynamics of a system of coupled pendulums. (Q1432338)

The author considers a Hamiltonian system with Hamiltonian \(H=T+V\) with the \(n\)-torus as configuration space, where \(T\) is the kinetic energy and the potential energy \(V\) is assumed to be a trigonometric polynomial. Let \(\Sigma\) denote the convex hull of the spectrum of \(V\). An edge joining two vertices of the polyhedron \(\Sigma\) is said to be positive if \(\langle\alpha,\beta\rangle>0\) (scalar product in \( R^n\)). The main result is the following theorem: Let \(W\) be the hyperplane containing the origin and \(n-1\) linearly independent vertices of \(\Sigma\); if a positive edge not lying entirely in \(W\) adjoins each of these \(n-1\) vertices, then the Hamiltonian system does not admit a polynomial integral that is independent of the energy \(H\). This is proved using the results of the author and \textit{D. V. Treshchev} [Mat. Sb., Nov.Ser. 135(177), No. 1, 119--138 (1988; Zbl 0696.58022)]. This result is applied to the following theorem: A system of \(n\) pendulums coupled by elastic springs does not admit a single-valued integral that is independent of the total energy. In particular, this enables the author to derive the Gibbs distribution of the system in an explicit form.