Separation of variables in multi-Hamiltonian systems: an application to the Lagrange top

Abstract

Starting from the tri-Hamiltonian formulation of the Lagrange top in a six-dimensional phase space, we discuss the reduction of the vector field and of the Poisson tensors. We show explicitly that, after the reduction on each one of the symplectic leaves, the vector field of the Lagrange top is separable in the sense of Hamilton-Jacobi.