Hyperbolic Completion of Newton's Off-Center Orbit Problem: Constant-Curvature Rigidity, $SO(2,1)$ Symmetry, and Magnetic Uniqueness

Abstract

The hyperbolic potential $$V(r)=-\frac{\alpha }{(R^2-r^2{)}^2}$$ was identified by Olshanii as the negative-curvature counterpart of Newton's off-center circular-orbit problem. We first show that this form is not an isolated ansatz. For a planar radial natural Hamiltonian at fixed energy, if the Jacobi metric is regular at the force center and has nonzero constant Gaussian curvature, then, up to radial and overall scales, $$E-V(r)=\frac{\alpha }{(R^2\pm r^2{)}^2}.$$ Thus the spherical and hyperbolic off-center models are the two nonflat regular radial constant-curvature branches. We then complete the dynamics of the negative-curvature branch. At zero energy its Jacobi metric is a constant multiple of the Poincare disk metric. An explicit Runge--Lenz-type vector and the angular momentum form an on-shell $\mathfrak{so}(2,1)$ moment map; their algebra gives the supporting-circle equation without integrating the equations of motion. The cotangent lift of circular inversion preserves the moment map and intertwines the exterior and punctured-interior flows after a positive time change. The singular circle is at infinite Jacobi distance but is reached in finite Newtonian time. Finally, requiring the magnetic two-form to preserve the full orientation-preserving hyperbolic isometry group uniquely forces it to be a constant multiple of hyperbolic area, hence $B(r)=-Q/(R^2-r^2{)}^2$ in disk coordinates. The resulting shifted $\mathfrak{so}(2,1)$ Casimir gives the standard circle--horocycle--hypercycle transition at $Q^2=8m\alpha R^2$, now as an explicit coupling statement in the off-center Newtonian system.

arXiv comment22 pages, 3 figures