An introduction to the Kepler-Heisenberg problem

Abstract

Here we provide an overview of what is known, and what is not known, about an interesting dynamical system known as the Kepler-Heisenberg problem. The main idea is to pose a version of the classical Kepler problem of planetary motion, but in a sub-Riemannian setting. The result is system which is surprisingly rich and beautiful, mysterious in some ways but tame in others, offering a substantial number of questions which seem non-trivial yet tractable.