Liouville-Preserving Hamiltonian Scattering on Finite Metric Graphs

Abstract

A metric graph with a mechanical Hamiltonian on each edge does not, by itself, define a deterministic classical motion through a branching vertex: conservation of energy fixes only the outgoing speed, not the outgoing edge-end. We study the deterministic problem obtained after this missing vertex datum is supplied. On each edge $e$, with coordinate $q\in [0,{\ell }_e]$, the Hamiltonian is $H_e(q,p)=p^2/2+V_e(q)$, where $V$is continuous on the graph and $C^2$ on every edge. At each vertex we prescribe an energy-preserving Borel isomorphism from incoming to outgoing nonzero boundary covectors. The resulting phase space is the measurable quotient that identifies each incoming boundary covector with its prescribed outgoing one. After excluding the finitely many energy levels $V(v)$, the edgewise Hamilton equations and the vertex laws concatenate to a global one-parameter group of bimeasurable transformations. The group preserves energy and the quotient measure induced by the edgewise Liouville measures $dqdp$. The proof uses no smooth symplectic structure on the quotient; the invariance follows from ordinary edgewise Liouville invariance, a uniform no-Zeno estimate on compact regular energy windows, and preservation of the transverse Liouville flux $rdr$ by the speedwise vertex permutations. If the vertex laws are compatible with momentum reversal, then the quotient dynamics is reversible. On regular energy surfaces satisfying the usual regular-value condition, the induced time-parametrization measure is invariant as well.

arXiv commentSubmitted to Journal of Mathematical Physics