A geometrical approach to the Hamilton-Jacobi form of dynamics and its generalizations

Marmo, G and Morandi, G and Mukunda, N (1990) A geometrical approach to the Hamilton-Jacobi form of dynamics and its generalizations. In: Rivista del Nuovo Cimento, 13 (8). 74 pp.

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Abstract

The paper under review is devoted to the task of expressing the principles of classical dynamics in a coordinate-free manner and aims to show that the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism is as complete as the Hamiltonian or Lagrangian treatment of dynamical systems. This concerns mainly the incorporation of symmetry group actions in Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Stated in geometrical form, the unknown in this theory becomes a Lagrangian submanifold in a phase space, instead of a function over the configuration manifold in the ordinary formulation. The time-dependent Hamilton-Jacobi theory is also cast in this form after promoting time and its conjugate variable to the level of dynamical variables. Once this is done the analysis copies that of the time-independent case. The paper ends with interesting comments on the relationship between the Hamilton-Jacobi theory and Schrödinger's quantum mechanics. Plenty of other comments, examples and remarks are spread throughout the text. The exposition is quite informative and lucid.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Rivista del Nuovo Cimento
Publisher:	Italian Physical Society
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Italian Physical Society.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for Theoretical Studies (Ceased to exist at the end of 2003)
Date Deposited:	17 Aug 2004
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2012 10:05
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/959

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