Hamiltonian formulation of theories with higher derivatives

A method of constructing the Hamiltonian formulation for a singular Lagrangian with higher derivatives is discussed. The method allows the specifics of the theory to be taken into account. It is shown that Hamiltonian formulations constructed from the same Lagrangian, but with different methods of introducing the additional generalized coordinates representing the higher derivatives, are related by a canonical point transformation.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 65–68, September, 1985.