Apparent topologically forbidden interchange of energy surfaces under slow variation of a Hamiltonian.

In this paper we consider the motion of point particles in a particular type of one-degree-of-freedom, slowly changing, temporally periodic Hamiltonian. Through most of the time cycle, the particles conserve their action, but when a separatrix is approached and crossed, the conservation of action breaks down, as shown in previous theoretical studies. These crossings have the effect that the numerical solution shows an apparent contradiction. Specifically we consider two initial constant energy phase space curves H=E(A) and H=E(B) at time t=0, where H is the Hamiltonian and E(A) and E(B) are the two initial energies. The curve H=E(A) encircles the curve H=E(B). We then sprinkle many initial conditions (particles) on these curves and numerically follow their orbits from t=0 forward in time by one cycle period. At the end of the cycle the vast majority of points initially on the curves H=E(A) and H=E(B) now appear to lie on two new constant energy curves H=E(A)' and H=E(B)', where the B' curve now encircles the A' curve (as opposed to the initial case where the A curve encircles the B curve). Due to the uniqueness of Hamilton dynamics, curves evolved under the dynamics cannot cross each other. Thus the apparent curves H=E(A)' and H=E(B)' must be only approximate representations of the true situation that respects the topological exclusion of curve crossing. In this paper we resolve this apparent paradox and study its consequences. For this purpose we introduce a "robust" numerical simulation technique for studying the complex time evolution of a phase space curve in a Hamiltonian system. We also consider how a very tiny amount of friction can have a major consequence, as well as what happens when a very large number of cycles is followed. We also discuss how this phenomenon might extend to chaotic motion in higher dimensional Hamiltonian systems.