Inverse problems in ordinary differential equations and applications (Q261492)

The meaning of ``inverse problem'' as used in this book is that of finding the most general system of autonomous first order ordinary differential equations on an open subset of \({\mathbb R}^N\) whose solutions have a specified set of properties. For example, one might wish to find a smooth, analytic, or polynomial system (perhaps of restricted degree) with a particular phase portrait, up to homeomorphism. The kinds of problems treated in this work are those of finding all systems with previously given partial or first integrals, finding sufficient conditions for a system to admit \(N - 1\) independent first integrals, finding the most general force field (given a mechanical system with \(n\) degrees of freedom) that depends only on the position of the system and that satisfies a given set of constraint that are linear in the velocity, problems for constrained Hamiltonian systems, and a few others. The main tool used in the book is the bracket proposed by \textit{Y. Nambu} [Phys. Rev. D (3) 7, 2405--2412 (1973; Zbl 1027.70503)], namely, for smooth \(h_1, \dots, h_N : {\mathbb R}^N \to {\mathbb R}\), \(\{h_1, \dots, h_N \} = \det\frac{\partial(h_1, \dots, h_N)}{\partial(x_1, \dots, x_N)}\), the Jacobian determinant of the self-map on \({\mathbb R}^N\) with the \(h_j\) as components. The book begins with derivation of new properties of this operator. As the authors state, ``the application of the Nambu bracket \dots [given] in this book are original and represent a new direction in the development of the theory of the Nambu bracket.'' The book is divided into seven chapters with the following titles. 1. Differential equations with given partial and first integrals. 2. Polynomial vector fields with given partial and first integrals. 3. Hilbert's 16th problem for algebraic limit cycles. 4. Inverse problems for constrained Lagrangian systems. 5. Inverse problems for constrained Hamiltonian systems. 6. Integrability of the constrained rigid body 7. Inverse problems in vakonomic mechanics. To quote the authors again, ``the inverse approach in ordinary differential equations \dots propose[d] in this book, based on the development of properties of the Nambu bracket, yields a unified approach to the study of such diverse problems'' as those that they examine here.