LAGRANGIANS FOR BIOLOGICAL MODELS

We show that a method presented in [S. L. Trubatch and A. Franco, Canonical Procedures for Population Dynamics, J. Theor. Biol. 48 (1974) 299–324] and later in [G. H. Paine, The development of Lagrangians for biological models, Bull. Math. Biol. 44 (1982) 749–760] for finding Lagrangians of classic models in biology, is actually based on finding the Jacobi Last Multiplier of such models. Using known properties of Jacobi Last Multiplier we show how to obtain linear Lagrangians of systems of two first-order ordinary differential equations and nonlinear Lagrangian of the corresponding single second-order equation that can be derived from them, even in the case where those authors failed such as the host-parasite model. Also we show that the Lagrangians of certain second-order ordinary differential equations derived by Volterra in [V. Volterra, Calculus of variations and the logistic curve, Hum. Biol. 11 (1939) 173–178] are particular cases of the Lagrangians that can be obtained by means of the Jacobi Last Multiplier. Actually we provide more than one Lagrangian for those Volterra's equations.     

LAGRANGIANS FOR DISSIPATIVE NONLINEAR OSCILLATORS: THE METHOD OF JACOBI LAST MULTIPLIER

We present a method devised by Jacobi to derive Lagrangians of any second-order differential equation: it consists in finding a Jacobi Last Multiplier. We illustrate the easiness and the power of Jacobi's method by applying it to several equations, including a class of equations recently studied by Musielak with his own method [Z. E. Musielak, Standard and non-standard Lagrangians for dissipative dynamical systems with variable coefficients J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 41 (2008) 055205], and in particular a Liènard type nonlinear oscillator and a second-order Riccati equation. Also, we derive more than one Lagrangian for each equation.     

Differential-geometric structures associated with the Lagrangian and a nonvariational interpretation of the Euler equations and Nöther’s theorem

Differential-geometry structures associated with Lagrangians are studied. A relative invariant E embraced by an extension of fundamental object is constructed (in the paper, E is referred to as the Euler relative invariant) such that the equation E = 0 is an invariant representation of the Euler equation for the variational functional. For this reason, a nonvariational interpretation of the Euler equations becomes possible, because the Euler equations need not be connected with the variational problem, and one can regard the equations from the very beginning as an equation arising when equating the Euler relative invariant to zero. Local diffeomorphisms between two structures associated with Lagrangians are also discussed. The theorem concerning conditions under which the vanishing condition for the Euler relative invariant of one of these structures leads to vanishing of the Euler invariant relative of the other structure can be treated as a nonvariational interpretation of Nöther’s theorem.     

Independence of Yang-Mills Equations with Respect to the Invariant Pairing in the Lie Algebra

It is proved that the Euler–Lagrange equations of a Yang-Mills type Lagragian is independent with respect to the chosen pairing in the Lie algebra. Moreover, the Hamilton-Cartan equations of these Lagrangians are obtained and proved to be also independent with respect to the pairing. PACS Numbers 2003: 02.20.Qs, 02.20.Sv, 02.20.Tw, 02.40.Ma, 02.40.Vh, 11.10.Ef, 11.15.Kc Mathematics Subject Classification 2000: Primary 70S15, Secondary 58A20, 58E15, 58E30, 70S05, 70S10, 81T13     

Symmetries of the Fokker-Type Relativistic Mechanics in Various Forms of Dynamics

Abstract

The single-time nonlocal Lagrangians corresponding to the Fokker-type action integrals are obtained in arbitrary form of relativistic dynamics. The symmetry conditions for such Lagrangians under an arbitrary Lie group acting on the Minkowski space are formulated in various forms of dynamics. An explicit expression for the integrals of motion corresponding to the Poincaré invariance is derived.     

Conformally related metrics and Lagrangians and their physical interpretation in cosmology

Conformally related metrics and Lagrangians are considered in the context of scalar–tensor gravity cosmology. After the discussion of the problem, we pose a lemma in which we show that the field equations of two conformally related Lagrangians are also conformally related if and only if the corresponding Hamiltonian vanishes. Then we prove that to every non-minimally coupled scalar field, we may associate a unique minimally coupled scalar field in a conformally related space with an appropriate potential. The latter result implies that the field equations of a non-minimally coupled scalar field are the same at the conformal level with the field equations of the minimally coupled scalar field. This fact is relevant in order to select physical variables among conformally equivalent systems. Finally, we find that the above propositions can be extended to a general Riemannian space of $n$ n -dimensions.     

Gravitational Field as a Pressure Force from Logarithmic Lagrangians and Non-Standard Hamiltonians:The Case of Stellar Halo of Milky Way

Recently,the notion of non-standard Lagrangians was discussed widely in literature in an attempt to explore the inverse variational problem of nonlinear differential equations.Different forms of non-standard Lagrangians were introduced in literature and have revealed nice mathematical and physical properties.One interesting form related to the inverse variational problem is the logarithmic Lagrangian,which has a number of motivating features related to the Li′enard-type and Emden nonlinear differential equations.Such types of Lagrangians lead to nonlinear dynamics based on non-standard Hamiltonians.In this communication,we show that some new dynamical properties are obtained in stellar dynamics if standard Lagrangians are replaced by Logarithmic Lagrangians and their corresponding non-standard Hamiltonians.One interesting consequence concerns the emergence of an extra pressure term,which is related to the gravitational field suggesting that gravitation may act as a pressure in a strong gravitational field.The case of the stellar halo of the Milky Way is considered.     

Reduction of Higher Derivative Lagrangians

Perturbative higher time-derivative N-body Lagrangians are treated. By the aid of the redefinition of position variables the higher derivatives are reduced to ordinary derivatives directly on the Lagrangian level. This method clarifies the meaning of using equations and/or constants of motion in higher derivative terms in perturbative Lagrangians.     

AN OLD METHOD OF JACOBI TO FIND LAGRANGIANS

In a recent paper by Ibragimov a method was presented in order to find Lagrangians of certain second-order ordinary differential equations admitting a two-dimensional Lie symmetry algebra. We present a method devised by Jacobi which enables one to derive (many) Lagrangians of any second-order differential equation. The method is based on the search of the Jacobi Last Multipliers for the equations. We exemplify the simplicity and elegance of Jacobi's method by applying it to the same two equations as Ibragimov did. We show that the Lagrangians obtained by Ibragimov are particular cases of some of the many Lagrangians that can be obtained by Jacobi's method.     

Tensor Lagrangians,Lagrangians Equivalent to the Hamilton-Jacobi Equation and Relativistic Dynamics

We deal with Lagrangians which are not the standard scalar ones. We present a short review of tensor Lagrangians, which generate massless free fields and the Dirac field, as well as vector and pseudovector Lagrangians for the electric and magnetic fields of Maxwell’s equations with sources. We introduce and analyse Lagrangians which are equivalent to the Hamilton-Jacobi equation and recast them to relativistic equations.     

经典力学中加速度相关的Lagrange函数

研究了加速度线性相关的Lagrange函数,在加速度项系数对称的条件下,Lagrange方程保持为二阶微分方程;给出了从运动方程构造加速度相关的Lagrange函数的方法;研究同一系统的加速度相关和加速度无关的Lagrange函数之间的关系.举例说明结果的应用. 关键词： Lagrange方程 加速度相关的Lagrange函数 广义力学 Lagrange函数的规范变换     

Legendre Transformation for Regularizable Lagrangians in Field Theory

Hamilton equations based not only upon the Poincaré–Cartan equivalent of a first-order Lagrangian, but also upon its Lepagean equivalent are investigated. Lagrangians which are singular within the Hamilton–De Donder theory, but regularizable in this generalized sense are studied. Legendre transformation for regularizable Lagrangians is proposed and Hamilton equations, equivalent with the Euler–Lagrange equations, are found. It is shown that all Lagrangians affine or quadratic in the first derivatives of the field variables are regularizable. The Dirac field and the electromagnetic field are discussed in detail.     

The neutrino energy-momentum tensor and the Weyl equations in curved space-time

In general, a first order Lagrangian gives rise to second order Euler-Lagrange equations. However, there are important examples where the associated Euler-Lagrange equations are of first order only, the Weyl neutrino equations being of this type. In this paper we therefore consider first order spinor Lagrangians which give rise to firstorder Euler-Lagrange equations. Specifically, the most general first order spinor field equations of rank one in curved space-time which are derivable from a first order Lagrangian of the same type are explicitly constructed. Subject to a certain restriction, the Weyl neutrino equation is the only possibility. Furthermore, if the spinor field satisfies the Weyl neutrino equation, then the associated energy momentum tensor is the conventional neutrino energymomentum tensor.     

Inverse Variational Problem for Nonlinear Evolution Equations

The Helmholtz solution of the inverse problem for the variational calculus is used to study the analytic or Lagrangian structure of a number of nonlinear evolution equations. The quasilinear equations in the KdV hierarchy constitute a Lagrangian system. On the other hand, evolution equations with nonlinear dispersive terms (FNE) are non-Lagrangian. However, the method of Helmholtz can be judiciously exploited to construct Lagrangian system of such equations. In all cases the derived Lagrangians are gauge equivalent to those obtained earlier by the use of Hamilton’s variational principle supplemented by the methodology of integer-programming problem. The free Hamiltonian densities associated with the so-called gauge equivalent Lagrangians yield the equation of motion via a new canonical equation similar to that of Zakharov, Faddeev and Gardner. It is demonstrated that the Lagrangian system of FNE equations supports compacton solutions.PACS: 47.20.Ky; 42.81.Dp     

Variational techniques on classes of Lagrangians

We present canonical procedures for the manipulation of whole classes of Lagrangians that share the same transformation law and functional dependence but are otherwise arbitrary in functional form, and for the derivation therefrom of generalized conserved quantities. The techniques are demonstrated on the class of scalar density LagrangiansL=L _G+L _EM, whereL _G is a function of the metric and its first and second derivatives andL _EM is a function of the metric and a vector potential and its first derivative, which generate the Einstein-Maxwell equations (without cosmological constant). These procedures should be of interest to those studying alternate formulations of general relativity, those deriving new field theories, and others working with general of modified Lagrangians.     

The Hamilton Cartan formalism for rth-order Lagrangians and the integrability of the KdV and modified KdV equations

The Hamilton Cartan formalism for rth order Lagrangians is presented in a form suited to dealing with higher-order conserved currents. Noether's Theorem and its converse are stated and Poisson brackets are defined for conserved charges. An isomorphism between the Lie algebra of conserved currents and a Lie algebra of infinitesimal symmetries of the Cartan form is established. This isomorphism, together with the commutativity of the Bäcklund transformations for the KdV and modified KdV equations, allows a simple geometric proof that the infinite collections of conserved charges for these equations are in involution with respect to the Poisson bracket determined by their Lagrangians. Thus, the formal complete integrability of these equations appears as a consequence of the properties of their Bäcklund transformations.It is noted that the Hamilton Cartan formalism determines a symplectic structure on the space of functionals determined by conserved charges and that, in the case of the KdV equation, the structure is the same as that given by Miura et al. [5].     

n<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">th</Emphasis></Superscript>-Order Approximate Lagrangians Induced by Perturbative Geometries

A family of perturbative Lagrangians that describe approximate and multidimensional Klein-Gordon equations are studied. We probe the existence of approximate Noether symmetries via generalized geometric conditions for a perturbation of any order. The knowledge of the geometric conditions uncovers that unlike exact symmetries, the approximate Noether symmetries of the Lagrangian which describes the motion of a particle in n-dimensional space under the action of an autonomous force, is inequivalent to the Noether symmetries admitted by the Klein-Gordon Lagrangian in general.     

Finite Euler hierarchies and integrable universal equations

Recent work on Euler hierarchies of field theory Lagrangians iteratively constructed from their successive equations of motion is briefly reviewed. On the one hand, a certain triality structure is described, relating arbitrary field theories,classical topological field theories — whose classical solutions span topological classes of manifolds — and reparametrisation invariant theories — generalising ordinary string and membrane theories. On the other hand,finite Euler hierarchies are constructed for all three classes of theories. These hierarchies terminate withuniversal equations of motion, probably defining new integrable systems as they admit an infinity of Lagrangians. Speculations as to the possible relevance of these theories to quantum gravity are also suggested.Presented at the Colloquium on the Quantum Groups, Prague, 18–20 June 1992.The author would like to thank A. Morozov and especially D. B. Fairlie for a very enjoyable and stimulating collaboration, and the organisers of the Colloquium for their efficient organisation of a most pleasant and informative meeting. This work is supported through a Senior Research Assitant position funded by the S.E.R.C.