Paper 3, Section I, B

Classical Dynamics | Part II, 2020

A particle of mass mm experiences a repulsive central force of magnitude k/r2k / r^{2}, where r=rr=|\mathbf{r}| is its distance from the origin. Write down the Hamiltonian of the system.

The Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector for this system is defined by

A=p×L+mkr^\mathbf{A}=\mathbf{p} \times \mathbf{L}+m k \hat{\mathbf{r}}

where L=r×p\mathbf{L}=\mathbf{r} \times \mathbf{p} is the angular momentum and r^=r/r\hat{\mathbf{r}}=\mathbf{r} / r is the radial unit vector. Show that

{L,H}={A,H}=0,\{\mathbf{L}, H\}=\{\mathbf{A}, H\}=\mathbf{0},

where {,}\{\cdot, \cdot\} is the Poisson bracket. What are the integrals of motion of the system? Show that the polar equation of the orbit can be written as

r=λecosθ1,r=\frac{\lambda}{e \cos \theta-1},

where λ\lambda and ee are non-negative constants.

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