A Generalized Montgomery Phase Formula for Rotating Self Deforming Bodies

Abstract

We study the motion of self deforming bodies with non zero angular momentum when the changing shape is known as a function of time. The conserved angular momentum with respect to the center of mass, when seen from a rotating frame, describes a curve on a sphere as it happens for the rigid body motion, though obeying a more complicated non-autonomous equation. We observe that if, after time $\Delta T$, this curve is simple and closed, the deforming body \'{}s orientation in space is fully characterized by an angle or phase $\theta_{M}$. We also give a reconstruction formula for this angle which generalizes R. Montgomery\'{}s well known formula for the rigid body phase. Finally, we apply these techniques to obtain analytical results on the motion of deforming bodies in some concrete examples.