Superintegrable n=2 systems, quadratic constants of motion, and potentials of Drach

Abstract

The properties of superintegrable systems in two degrees of freedom, possessing three independent globally defined constants of motion, are studied using as an approach, the existence of hidden symmetries and the generalized Noether’s theorem. The potentials are obtained as solution of a system of two partial differential equations. First the case of standard Lagrangians is studied and then the method is applied to the case of Lagrangians with a pseudo-Euclidean kinetic term. Finally, the results are related with other approaches and with a family of potentials admitting a second integral of motion cubic in the velocities obtained by Drach.