1989American Journal of PhysicsRequires access

Canonical transformations with time as a coordinate

Oliver Davis Johns

Open publisher page 3 citations

Abstract

The traditional definition of canonical transformation in classical analytic mechanics does not allow time to transform, and so excludes the Lorentz transformation. To remedy this anachronism, the well-known set of symmetric Lagrangian equations is used, which treat time as just another generalized coordinate and the negative of the traditional Hamiltonian function as just another generalized momentum. Based on this augmented phase space, time-symmetric canonical transformations are defined, which include time as a transformable coordinate. A complete theory is then presented of the invariance of Hamiltonian equations under these time-symmetric canonical transformations. This theory is based on a central fact: the nonexistence of symmetric Hamiltonian equations that would treat all coordinates and momenta equally in the same way that the symmetric Lagrangian theory does. The only available equations of Hamiltonian form are the nonsymmetric Hamiltonian equations, each set of which singles out one particular coordinate and its conjugate momentum for special treatment. It is these nonsymmetric Hamiltonian equations which are form invariant under time-symmetric canonical transformations. Also presented is a new variational principle that varies generalized coordinates and generalized velocities independently and unifies Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics in one principle.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

The traditional definition of canonical transformation in classical analytic mechanics does not allow time to transform, and so excludes the Lorentz transformation. To remedy this anachronism, the well-known set of symmetric Lagrangian equations is used, which treat time as just another generalized coordinate and the negative of the traditional Hamiltonian function as just another generalized momentum. Based on this augmented phase space, time-symmetric canonical transformations are defined, which include time as a transformable coordinate. A complete theory is then presented of the invariance of Hamiltonian equations under these time-symmetric canonical transformations. This theory is based on a central fact: the nonexistence of symmetric Hamiltonian equations that would treat all coordinates and momenta equally in the same way that the symmetric Lagrangian theory does. The only available equations of Hamiltonian form are the nonsymmetric Hamiltonian equations, each set of which singles out one particular coordinate and its conjugate momentum for special treatment. It is these nonsymmetric Hamiltonian equations which are form invariant under time-symmetric canonical transformations. Also presented is a new variational principle that varies generalized coordinates and generalized velocities independently and unifies Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics in one principle.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 3 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

The traditional definition of canonical transformation in classical analytic mechanics does not allow time to transform, and so excludes the Lorentz transformation. To remedy this anachronism, the well-known set of symmetric Lagrangian equations is used, which treat time as just another generalized coordinate and the negative of the traditional Hamiltonian function as just another generalized momentum. Based on this augmented phase space, time-symmetric canonical transformations are defined, which include time as a transformable coordinate. A complete theory is then presented of the invariance of Hamiltonian equations under these time-symmetric canonical transformations. This theory is based on a central fact: the nonexistence of symmetric Hamiltonian equations that would treat all coordinates and momenta equally in the same way that the symmetric Lagrangian theory does. The only available equations of Hamiltonian form are the nonsymmetric Hamiltonian equations, each set of which singles out one particular coordinate and its conjugate momentum for special treatment. It is these nonsymmetric Hamiltonian equations which are form invariant under time-symmetric canonical transformations. Also presented is a new variational principle that varies generalized coordinates and generalized velocities independently and unifies Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics in one principle.

Key concepts: Canonical coordinates, Hamiltonian optics, Hamiltonian (control theory), Covariant Hamiltonian field theory, Canonical transformation, Hamiltonian mechanics, Physics, Mathematical physics

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Canonical transformations with time as a coordinate — Research Paper | ScholarLens