Systems of second-order linear ODE’s with constant coefficients and their symmetries. II. The case of non-diagonal coefficient matrices.

Abstract

We complete the analysis of the symmetry algebra L for systems of n second-order linear ODEs with constant real coefficients, by studying the case of coefficient matrices having a non-diagonal Jordan canonical form. We also classify the Levi factor (maximal semisimple subalgebra) of L, showing that it is completely determined by the Jordan form. A universal formula for the dimension of the symmetry algebra of such systems is given. As application, the case n = 5 is analyzed.