Symplectic integrators for spin systems

Abstract

We present a symplectic integrator, based on the canonical midpoint rule, for classical spin systems in which each spin is a unit vector in $\mathbb{R}^3$. Unlike splitting methods, it is defined for all Hamiltonians, and is $O(3)$-equivariant. It is a rare example of a generating function for symplectic maps of a noncanonical phase space. It yields an integrable discretization of the reduced motion of a free rigid body.