Separability of two-Casimir bi- and tri-Hamiltonian chains (Q5942367)

The paper is an invited lecture that the author gave at XXXI Symposium on Mathematical Physics, Toruń, 1999. It aims to present a separability theory for some specific split bi-Hamiltonian finite-dimensional chains and unsplit tri-Hamiltonian finite-dimensional chains generated from two initial Casimirs. The basis of the theory is a class of algebraic curves leading to separate variables and degenerate Poisson pencils, which are motivated by spectral curves of soliton equations. The results are illustrated by a few concrete examples associated with soliton equations. For more detailed treatments, refer to the author [J. Math. Phys. 40, 5725-5747 (1999; Zbl 1063.37534), J. Nonlinear Math. Phys. 7, 213-243 (2000; Zbl 1119.37316)].