Canonical Transformation (two degrees of freedom)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a point transformation in a Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom, specifically focusing on finding a canonical transformation and analyzing a given Hamiltonian. The original poster presents a transformation for generalized coordinates and seeks to determine the corresponding momenta that maintain the canonical structure.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the symplectic approach to derive the transformations for momenta, raising questions about the conditions for canonical transformations. Some participants suggest using Hamiltonian equations of motion to derive further relationships, while others question the lack of initial conditions provided in the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively exploring the implications of the Hamiltonian and the derived equations of motion. Some guidance has been offered regarding the integration of constants of motion, but there remains uncertainty about how to proceed without specified initial conditions.

Contextual Notes

The problem presents constraints such as the requirement to express solutions in terms of time and initial values, despite the absence of explicit initial conditions in the statement.

sayebms
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Homework Statement


Point transformation in a system with 2 degrees of freedom is: $$Q_1=q_1^2\\Q_2=q_q+q_2$$
a) find the most general $P_1$ and $P_2$ such that overall transformation is canonical
b) Show that for some $P_1$ and $P_2$ the hamiltonain $$H=\frac{a}{2}(\frac{p_1-p_2}{wq_1})^2+bp_2+c(q_1+q_2)^2$$
(Note: a,b,c, constant) can be transformed in a way that $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ could be ignored.
c) Finally solve the problem and find equations for $q_1,q_2,p_1$ and $p_2$ in terms of t and their initial values.

Homework Equations


-Symplictic approach

The Attempt at a Solution


a) in order to find the transformation for $P$'s I use the symplectic approach:
in this approach we have the following condition for the canonical transformations $$\tilde{M}JM=J$$
where M is the matrix:
$$M=\begin{bmatrix} \frac{\partial Q_1}{\partial q_1}&\frac{\partial Q_1}{\partial q_2}&\frac{\partial Q_1}{\partial p_1}&\frac{\partial Q_1}{\partial p_2}\\\frac{\partial Q_2}{\partial q_1}&\frac{\partial Q_2}{\partial q_2}&\frac{\partial Q_2}{\partial p_1}&\frac{\partial Q_2}{\partial p_2}\\\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial q_1}&\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial q_2}&\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial p_1}&\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial p_2}\\\frac{\partial P_2}{\partial q_1}&\frac{\partial P_2}{\partial q_2}&\frac{\partial
P_2}{\partial p_1}&\frac{\partial P_2}{\partial p_2}\end{bmatrix}$$
and $$J=\begin{bmatrix} 0&0&1&0\\0&0&0&1\\-1&0&0&0\\0&-1&0&0\end{bmatrix}$$
so applying the symplectic methods conditions I get the following equations:$$\frac{\partial P_2}{\partial p_2}=1\\\frac{\partial P_2}{\partial p_1}=0\\\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial p_2}=\frac{-1}{2q_1}\\\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial p_1}=\frac{1}{2q_1}$$
which then gives me the following most general transformations for $P_1$ and $P_2$ :
$$P_1=\frac{1}{2q_1}(p_1-p_2)+g(q_1,q_2)\\P_2=p_2+f(q_1,q_2)\\2q_1 \frac{\partial g}{\partial q_2}+\frac{\partial f}{\partial q_2}-\frac{\partial f}{\partial q_1}$$
b) this part is very simple if we choose $$P_1=\frac{p_1-p_2}{2q_1}\\g(q_1,q_2)=0$$and $$P_2=p_2+\frac{c}{b}(q_1+q_2)^2\\f(q_1,q_2)=\frac{c}{b}(q_1+q_2)^2$$
we see that with these choices the three equations we found earlier are satisfied. and the Hamiltonian becomes:$$H=\frac{a}{2}P_1^2+bP_2$$
But I don't know how I can proceed for solving part c). Any help is appreciated. Thank you very much.[/B]
 
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You have the Hamiltonian, so you can just write down the equations of motion and solve them.
 
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so using the Hamiltonian equations of motion I have: $$\dot{Q_1}=\frac{\partial H}{\partial P_1}=aP_1 \Longrightarrow \frac{d(q_1^2)}{dt}=2q_1\dot{q_1}=aP_1\\\dot{Q_2}=\frac{\partial H}{\partial P_2}=b \Longrightarrow \dot{q_1}+\dot{q_2}=b\\\dot{P_1}=0\\\dot{P_2}=0$$ So I guess these are the equations that I am supposed to solve. But there is one more thing that I don't get; the problem hasn't given us anything on initial conditions but still wants the equations of q,p,t in terms of t and Initial values.Thank you very much again.
 
$$P_1$$ is a constant of motion, so you can integrate the right side to get $$Q_1 = aP_1 \cdot t$$.
 

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