Vlasov moments, integrable systems and singular solutions

The Vlasov equation governs the evolution of the single-particle probability distribution function (PDF) for a system of particles interacting without dissipation. Its singular solutions correspond to the individual particle motions. The operation of taking the moments of the Vlasov equation is a Poisson map. The resulting Lie-Poisson Hamiltonian dynamics of the Vlasov moments is found to be integrable is several cases. For example, the dynamics for coasting beams in particle accelerators is associated by a hodograph transformation to the known integrable Benney shallow-water equation. After setting the context, the Letter focuses on geodesic Vlasov moment equations. Continuum closures of these equations at two different orders are found to be integrable systems whose singular solutions characterize the geodesic motion of the individual particles. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.