A non-linear oscillator with quasi-harmonic behaviour: two- and n -dimensional oscillators (original) (raw)

A nonlinear two-dimensional system is studied by making use of both the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian formalisms. The present model is obtained as a twodimensional version of a one-dimensional oscillator previously studied at the classical and also at the quantum level. First, it is proved that it is a super-integrable system, and then the nonlinear equations are solved and the solutions are explicitly obtained. All the bounded motions are quasiperiodic oscillations and the unbounded (scattering) motions are represented by hyperbolic functions. In the second part the system is generalized to the case of n degrees of freedom. Finally, the relation of this nonlinear system with the harmonic oscillator on spaces of constant curvature, two-dimensional sphere S 2 and hyperbolic plane H 2 , is discussed.