Classification of Hamilton-Jacobi separation in orthogonal coordinates with diagonal curvature

Abstract

We find all orthogonal metrics where the geodesic Hamilton-Jacobi equation separates and the Riemann curvature tensor satisfies a certain equation (called the diagonal curvature condition). All orthogonal metrics of constant curvature satisfy the diagonal curvature condition. The metrics we find either correspond to a Benenti system or are warped product metrics where the induced metric on the base manifold corresponds to a Benenti system. Furthermore we show that most metrics we find are characterized by concircular tensors; these metrics, called Kalnins-Eisenhart-Miller (KEM) metrics, have an intrinsic characterization which can be used to obtain them. In conjunction with other results, we show that the metrics we found constitute all separable metrics for Riemannian spaces of constant curvature and de Sitter space.