Strange Hamilton Jacobi equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Hamilton-Jacobi equation as it relates to a particle under a potential defined by Vtotal=V(x)+(LS), where S represents the action. The equation is expressed as (dS/dt)+(gra(S))^2/2m+(LS)+V(x)=0, which aligns with the standard form of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation H(q,∂S/∂q,t)+∂S/∂t=0 when the Hamiltonian H is defined as H(q,∂S/∂q,t)=(∇S)^2/2m+∇S+V(q). The discussion concludes that the potential W, defined as W=∑p_i+V(q_i), is non-conservative and represents "virtual work," clarifying the nature of the potential in this context.

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eljose
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let be (dS/dt)+(gra(S))^2/2m+(LS)+V(x) where L is the Laplacian Operator and V is the potential...could it be considered as the Hamiltan Jacobi equation for a particle under a potential Vtotal=V(x)+(LS) where S is the action
 
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eljose said:
let be (dS/dt)+(gra(S))^2/2m+(LS)+V(x) where L is the Laplacian Operator and V is the potential...could it be considered as the Hamiltan Jacobi equation for a particle under a potential Vtotal=V(x)+(LS) where S is the action

I assume you mean to equate to 0, i.e.:

[tex]\frac{\partial S}{\partial t}\right)+\frac{(\vec\nabla S)^2}{2m}+\vec\nabla S+V(q)=0[/tex]

If we compare it to the Hamillton-Jacobi equation for the generating function S (a concept more general than the "action")

[tex]H\left(q,\frac{\partial S}{\partial q},t\right)+\frac{\partial S}{\partial t}=0[/tex]

we find they are compatible provided we let

[tex]H\left(q,\frac{\partial S}{\partial q},t\right)=\frac{(\vec\nabla S)^2}{2m}+\vec\nabla S+V(q)[/tex]

Since [tex]p_i=\frac{\partial S}{\partial q_i}[/tex], we can rewrite it as

[tex]H\left(q_i,p_i,t\right)=\frac{(\sum_i p_i)^2}{2m}+\vec\nabla S+V(q)[/tex]

or

[tex]H=T+W[/tex]

where

[tex]W=\sum_i p_i+V(q_i)[/tex].

Here we see that [tex]W=f(p_i,q_i)[/tex], in other words the "potential" W is not conservative and the meaning of W is that of "virtual work". Is that the source of your doubts?
 

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