Discrete Euler-Lagrange equations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on deriving the discrete Euler-Lagrange equations within the context of a discretized Lagrangian framework. Participants explore the formulation of the Lagrangian density, the implications of discretizing space, and the necessary modifications to the traditional variational principles when moving from continuous to discrete systems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the discrete Euler-Lagrange equations and discusses the transition from a continuous to a discrete Lagrangian framework, emphasizing the need to sum rather than integrate.
  • Another participant suggests following an argument from a reference text, proposing to replace continuous path variations with discrete ones to facilitate the derivation.
  • A different participant proposes using a finite difference approximation for spatial derivatives as a starting point to simplify the derivation of the Lagrange equations.
  • A later reply introduces an alternative approach that utilizes the chain rule in one of the spatial components, leading to a formulation that connects discrete variations to the desired terms in the Lagrangian.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various approaches to deriving the discrete Euler-Lagrange equations, indicating that multiple competing views and methods remain. There is no consensus on a single method or solution, and discussions reflect differing levels of complexity and understanding of the derivation process.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the derivations may involve assumptions about the behavior of fields and their derivatives in the discrete setting, as well as the implications of taking the limit as the lattice spacing approaches zero. There are unresolved mathematical steps related to the summation by parts and the treatment of derivatives in the discrete framework.

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TL;DR
I want to understand discretization of 3D space (lattice) and the summation-by-parts method. To do so I am deriving the discrete Euler-Lagrange equations. I am basically stuck in how to proceed with summation by parts.
I want to derive the discrete EL equations

$$\frac{d}{dt} \frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot \phi_a^{(i j k)}} - \frac{\partial L}{\partial \phi_a^{(i j k)}} = 0$$

We deal with a Lagrange density which only depends on the fields themselves and their first order derivatives.

We discretize space, so that any spatial vector can be written as

$$\vec x = il \hat e_1 + jl \hat e_2 + kl \hat e_3$$

Where $l$ is the distance between consecutive lattice points.

The Lagrangian is no longer ##L= \int d^3 \vec x \mathscr{L}## but ##L= \sum_{(i j k)} l^3 \mathscr{L}^{(i j k)}##. When we take the limit ##l \rightarrow 0## we recover ##L= \int d^3 \vec x \mathscr{L}##.

The fields are no longer ##\phi_a (\vec x, t)## but ##\phi_a^{(i j k)} (t)##. When we take the limit ##l \rightarrow 0## we recover ##\phi_a (\vec x, t)##.

The idea I have is that we will not have to integrate by parts but sum by parts.

As we know, the action is defined as follows

$$S= \int dt L; \ \text{where} \ L=l^3\sum_{(i j k)} \mathscr{L}^{(i j k)}$$

We extremize the action (i.e. ##\delta S =0##)

$$\delta S = \int dt \ l^3 \sum_{(i j k)} \delta \mathscr{L}^{(i j k)}=0$$

Let's work out the term

$$\sum_{(i j k)} \delta \mathscr{L}^{(i j k)} \tag{*}$$

I know that, for the fields ##\phi_a## with spacetime coordinate dependence, we have

$$\delta \phi_a = \frac{\partial \phi_a}{\partial x^{\mu}} \delta x^{\mu}$$

So I would naively proceed as follows

$$\delta \mathscr{L}^{(i j k)} = \frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \delta \phi_a^{(i j k)}+ \frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial \dot \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \delta \dot \phi_a^{(i j k)} + \sum_b^3 \frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial_b \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \delta_b \phi_a^{(i j k)} \tag{**}$$

Where ##b=x,y,z##

I am stuck in the following.

The idea is to perform summation by parts; i.e.

$$\sum_{k=m}^n f_k (g_{k+1}-g_k) = (f_n g_{n+1} - f_m g_m) - \sum_{k=m+1}^n g_k (f_k -f_{k-1})$$

To the terms ##\frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial \dot \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \delta \dot \phi_a^{(i j k)}## and ##\sum_b^3 \frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial_b \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \delta_b \phi_a^{(i j k)}##

I am a bit lost here. As an example

$$\sum_{(i j k)} \frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial_x \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \delta_x \phi_a^{(i j k)}=\sum_{(i j k)} \frac{\partial \mathscr{L}^{(i' j' k')}}{\partial_x \phi_a^{(i j k)}} \Big(\frac{\phi_a^{(i+1, j, k)}-\phi_a^{(i, j, k)}}{l} \Big) \tag{***}$$

Where I have used the definition of derivative on the infinitesimal term. I am confused, as I've got two derivatives before performing summation by parts, instead of 1; could you please shed some light on how to perform the summation by parts ##(***)##? Once that is understood, I should be able to derive the (discrete EL equations).

Thank you :biggrin:
 
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I would suggest following the argument in Goldstein except replace the continuous path variation, ##\eta(x)##, with a discrete one.

In the second edition, page 32 equation 2-4 would become, $$\phi_{ijk}(\alpha)=\phi_{ijk}(0)+\alpha\eta_{ijk}$$
 
Have you tried as a starting point , $$\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial x} \approx (\phi_{i+1jk} - \phi_{i-1jk})/2l,$$ as an approximation? With this and the corresponding expressions for y and z results in the Lagrange equation you're trying to prove being straight forward.
 
Hi Paul Colby.

It turns out I was overcomplicating. A colleague and I came up with an alternative approach, which basically was using the chain rule in one of the spatial components

$$\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot \phi_a^{(i,j ,k)}} = \frac{\partial}{\partial \phi_a^{(i,j,k)}} \sum_{(i',j',k')} \Big[ l^3 \mathcal{L}^{(i',j',k')}(\phi^{(i',j',k')}- \phi^{(i'-1,j',k')}) \Big] $$
$$= l^3 \sum_{(i',j',k')} \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}^{(i',j',k')}}{\partial(\phi^{(i',j',k')}- \phi^{(i'-1,j',k')})}\frac{\partial(\phi^{(i',j',k')}- \phi^{(i'-1,j',k')})}{\partial \phi_a^{(i,j,k)}}$$

Where the term ##\frac{\partial(\phi^{(i',j',k')}- \phi^{(i'-1,j',k')})}{\partial \phi_a^{(i,j,k)}}## yields

$$\frac{\partial(\phi^{(i',j',k')}- \phi^{(i'-1,j',k')})}{\partial \phi_a^{(i,j,k)}} = \delta_{i'}^{i} \delta_{j'}^{j} \delta_{k'}^{k}-\delta_{i'-1}^{i} \delta_{j'}^{j} \delta_{k'}^{k}$$

Plugging it into and taking the limit ##l \rightarrow 0## leads to the desired term, i.e. ##l^3 \partial_x \left(\frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial(\partial_x \phi)}\right)##
 
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