Can someone explains me the Legrendre transformation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter fluidistic
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Transformation
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the application of the Legendre transformation in both classical mechanics and thermodynamics, particularly how it relates to deriving the Hamiltonian from the Lagrangian and obtaining thermodynamic potentials like Gibbs free energy. The participant seeks clarification on how to apply the Legendre transform to functions of multiple variables, noting the lack of comprehensive resources on this topic. They express confusion over the transformation's operation in higher dimensions, as most references focus on single-variable cases. The conversation invites responses that explain the computation and meaning of the Legendre transform, as well as its geometric interpretation. Overall, the need for clear guidance on applying the Legendre transform in various contexts is emphasized.
fluidistic
Gold Member
Messages
3,928
Reaction score
272
I first met the Legrendre transformation in classical mechanics (self study), I did not pay much attention of how the Hamiltonian is derived from the Lagrangian, by applying a Legrendre transform to the Lagrangian. Now I meet this transformation again in Thermodynamics when one has the internal energy and wants to obtain for example the Gibbs free energy or Enthalpy, etc.
Now I try to understand exactly how this transform (is it an operator?) acts on a function of several variables. I must of course be mistaken but I see in wikipedia what happens in the case of a single variable, not several variables.
Thus, if you give me a function of several variables, I have no idea how to take the Legendre transform(s) of this function.
Could someone explain me more or less what is it, how to apply it or at least give me a good reference (wikipedia would do the job if I knew where to look at exactly)?
Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
There are a couple answers you might be looking for, so let me know which one you're after:
(1) How to compute with the Legendre Transform (like you might have to in Thermo).
(2) What is the meaning (usually) of the Legendre Transform
(3) The geometrical meaning of the Legendre Transform (thinking of tangent spaces, manifolds etc).

Cheers,

Kevin
 
homology said:
There are a couple answers you might be looking for, so let me know which one you're after:
(1) How to compute with the Legendre Transform (like you might have to in Thermo).
(2) What is the meaning (usually) of the Legendre Transform
(3) The geometrical meaning of the Legendre Transform (thinking of tangent spaces, manifolds etc).

Cheers,

Kevin

Thanks a lot for your help!
1 and 2.
 
Hello! Let's say I have a cavity resonant at 10 GHz with a Q factor of 1000. Given the Lorentzian shape of the cavity, I can also drive the cavity at, say 100 MHz. Of course the response will be very very weak, but non-zero given that the Loretzian shape never really reaches zero. I am trying to understand how are the magnetic and electric field distributions of the field at 100 MHz relative to the ones at 10 GHz? In particular, if inside the cavity I have some structure, such as 2 plates...
Back
Top