Geometric phases in mechanics
Geometric phases in mechanics
The note [37] contains a formula which expresses a continuous product of orthogonal matrices (i.e. of solution of the matrix ODE $\dot X = M(t) X $, $M^T=-M$, $X(t)\in SO(3)$) in terms of parallel transport on the 2-sphere. It is remarkable that the cumulative angle of rotation appears in the formula despite the fact that $M(t)$ do not commute for different $t$.
The paper [33] gives a simple proof of the Gauss-Bonnet formula by mechanical analogy. I stumbled upon this proof while changing a bicycle tire; holding the bike wheel made me wonder whether the wheel can be turned while held by its axle only; this led eventually to the proof of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. Mathematically, it is a new proof of the theorem using dual cones. The note also relates the Hannay-Berry phase with the ``writhing number" of the curve.
The note [32] is a geometrical study of rolling of a rigid surface on the plane with some applications which include an extremely short derivation of a formula found earlier by Richard Montgomery.