Calculus of Variations (Canonical equations)

Then, use the second equation to substitute for dy/dx. The resulting equation should be the same as the Euler-Lagrange equation for the given Lagrangian.In summary, the conversation is about a specific example involving a functional and its corresponding Lagrangian and Hamiltonian equations. The individual is asking how to determine if the Euler-Lagrange equation is equivalent to the canonical Euler equations in this example. The expert suggests differentiating the first equation with respect to "x" and substituting the second equation, resulting in an equation that should be equivalent to the Euler-Lagrange equation for the given Lagrangian.
  • #1
80
0
I've been looking at this example for a while now. Could someone help?

"Take the functional to be

[itex] J(Y) = \int_{a}^{b} \( \alpha Y'^2 + \beta Y^2) dx [/itex]

For this

[itex] F(x,y,y') = \alpha y'^2 + \beta y^2 [/itex]

and [itex] p = \frac{ \partial F}{\partial y'} = 2 \alpha y' [/itex]
[itex] \Rightarrow y' = \frac{p}{2 \alpha}[/itex]

The Hamiltonian H is

[itex] H = py' - F = \frac {p^2}{4 \alpha} - \beta y^2[/itex]

So the canonical equations are

[itex] \frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{ \partial H}{ \partial p} = \frac{p}{2 \alpha} [/itex]
and

[itex]- \frac{dp}{dx} = \frac{\partial H} {\partial y} = -2 \beta y [/itex]

I've also got the Euler Lagrange equation as

[itex] 2 \beta y - \frac{d}{dx} (2 \alpha y') = 0[/itex]

How can you tell that the Euler Lagrange equation is equivalent to the Canonical Euler equations in this set example?

Thanks in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Differentiate wrt "t" the eqn involving the first derivative of "y" and substitute the first derivative of p from the second and the resulting 2-nd order ODE in "y" will coincide with the Euler-Lagrange eqn for the lagrangian.
 
  • #3
dextercioby said:
Differentiate wrt "t" the eqn involving the first derivative of "y"

Sorry, what do you mean by this?
 
  • #4
Differentiate with respect to "x" (sorry, i thought it was "t", like in physics, where "t" stands for time) the first equation, the one involving dy/dx.
 

Suggested for: Calculus of Variations (Canonical equations)

  • Sticky
Replies
0
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
228
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
647
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top