# Homework Help: Liouville's theorem

1. Apr 11, 2007

### Clau

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
According to Liouville's theorem, the motion of phase-space points defined by Hamilton's equations conserves phase-space volume. The Hamiltonian for a single particle in one dimension, subjected to a constant force F, is

$$H(x,p_{x}) = \frac{p_{x}^2}{2.m} - F.x$$
Consider the phase space rectangle of initial points defined by
0 < x < A and 0 < p < B

Let the points in the rectangle move according to Hamilton's equations for a time t and sketch how the rectangle changes with time in the $$p_{x}$$-x plane.

2. Relevant equations
$$\frac{d\rho}{dt}= \frac{\partial\rho}{\partial t} +\sum_{i=1}^d\left(\frac{\partial\rho}{\partial q^i}\dot{q}^i +\frac{\partial\rho}{\partial p_i}\dot{p}_i\right)=0.$$

3. The attempt at a solution
Substituting the Hamiltonian from the problem inside the Liouville's equation I can see that the density of particles of this volume is constant.
But, I don't know how to show the movement of this rectangle with time.
I guess that there is no difference...

Last edited: Apr 11, 2007
2. Apr 11, 2007

### Dick

You can be more explicit about picturing the motion of the rectangle for the harmonic oscillator. You know p^2/2m+k*x^2/2=E which is a constant of motion. So the points in phase space move on concentric ellipses. That should make your sketch a little more expressive.

3. Apr 13, 2007

### andrew1982

But it was a constant force, not an oscillator, right?

It was some time ago that I did these things, but an approach could be to solve the equations of motion for x and px and then use the corners of the rectangle in phase space as starting conditions for 4 different trajectories. Then you can see where the corners are at time t later and how the phase space volume has evolved.... and all points that started inside the rectangle will still be there. Just an idea.

4. Apr 13, 2007

### Dick

Ooops, you are right! It's not a oscillator. Tracing the motion of the corners is pretty much what I was suggesting - except the trajectories will no longer be ellipses. Be careful not to assume that the boundaries of the region remain straight lines.

5. Apr 13, 2007

### Clau

Thank you, guys!

So, I'm using the following equations:

$$\dot{x}=\frac{dH(x,p_{x})}{dp_{x}} = \frac{p_{x}}{m}$$

$$\dot{p}_{x}=-\frac{dH(x,p_{x})}{dx} = F$$

Now I thinking to substitute inside these equations the points of the corners.
(0,0), (A,0), (A,B) and (0,B).

For instance:
(0,0)

$$\dot{x}=0$$

$$\dot{p}_{x}=F$$

So, there is a variation in the p-axis, but there's no variation in the x-axis (I don't know if this is the right interpretation).

Do you think that I'm going in the right way?