Stability of equilibria for the $\mathfrak{so}(4)$ free rigid body

Abstract

The stability for all generic equilibria of the Lie-Poisson dynamics of the $\mathfrak{so}(4)$ rigid body dynamics is completely determined. It is shown that for the generalized rigid body certain Cartan subalgebras (called of coordinate type) of $\mathfrak{so}(n)$ are equilibrium points for the rigid body dynamics. In the case of $\mathfrak{so}(4)$ there are three coordinate type Cartan subalgebras whose intersection with a regular adjoint orbit give three Weyl group orbits of equilibria. These coordinate type Cartan subalgebras are the analogues of the three axes of equilibria for the classical rigid body in $\mathfrak{so}(3)$. In addition to these coordinate type Cartan equilibria there are others that come in curves.