Reduction and reconstruction aspects of second-order dynamical systems with symmetry (Q2391002)

Expanding and continuing previous work [J. Math. Phys. 49, No.~3, 032901 (2008; Zbl 1153.37396)], the authors are concerned with the reduction and reconstruction problem for second-order dynamical systems admitting a Lie group of symmetries. The problem is posed in almost full generality, i.e., without constraining assumptions, such that the system arises from a Lagrangian. The only tool to analyze the dynamics is the existence of a connection. This enables the authors to obtain statements that are more general than those being considered as classical, like Euler-Lagrange equations or Chaplygin systems. The ansatz used by the authors is based on the reduction of the system to a coupled set of equations, being of first and second order, respectively. To this extent, the system is represented as a vector field of a special type, assuming, among other things, that the symmetry group acts freely on the manifold underlying the dynamical system. The resulting ambiguity of the reduction is solved by the introduction of a special reference system. This leads to a three component decomposition of the vector field associated to the system. This further allows to reconstruct the trajectories of the latter from the reduced dynamics. This deep geometrical approach is nicely illustrated by a concrete example at the end of the paper.