Noether's Theorem For Functionals of Several Variables

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the application of Noether's theorem for functionals of several variables, specifically translating the single-variable version into a multivariable context. The key equation presented is \mathcal{L} = \mathcal{L}(x_i,u_j,\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i}), leading to a conservation law expressed as \sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}\left(\frac{\partial u_j^*}{\partial \varepsilon_k} - \sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i}\frac{\partial x_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon _k}\right) + \mathcal{L}\frac{\partial x_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon _k}\right] = 0. The discussion also emphasizes the challenge of remembering the multivariable formulation and seeks to simplify it using Hamiltonian mechanics. The final consensus acknowledges the relationship between the Hamiltonian and conservation laws in the context of field theory.

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  • Familiarity with functionals and calculus of variations.
  • Knowledge of Hamiltonian mechanics and its application to field theory.
  • Proficiency in multivariable calculus and partial derivatives.
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  • Study the derivation and implications of Noether's theorem in multivariable contexts.
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bolbteppa
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My question is on using a form of the single variable Noether's theorem to remember the multiple variable version.

Noether's theorem, for functionals of a single independent variable, can be translated into saying that, because \mathcal{L} is invariant, we have

\mathcal{L}(x,y_i,y_i')dx = \sum_{j=1}^n p_i d y_j - \mathcal{H}dx = \mathcal{L}(x^*,y_i^*,y_i'^*)dx^* = \sum_{i=1}^n p_i d y_i^* - \mathcal{H}dx^* = C

It is usually stated by saying that

\sum_{i=1}^n \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial ( \tfrac{d y_i}{dx})} \frac{\partial y_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon} - \left[\sum_{j=1}^n \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial ( \tfrac{d y_j}{dx})} \tfrac{\partial y_j }{\partial x} - \mathcal{L}\right]\frac{\partial x^*}{\partial \varepsilon}

is conserved, but this seems to be equivalent to what I've written above.

(I've offered a hopefully unnecessary explanation of the details of the equivalence, posed as a question, http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/787011/noethers-theorem-for-functionals-of-several-variables ).

I like the above expression, it's great for remembering Noether's theorem.

Can we generalize it to functionals of several variables?

The statement of the multivariable Noether I know is that, for

\mathcal{L} = \mathcal{L}(x_i,u_j,\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})

we have that

\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}\left(\frac{\partial u_j^*}{\partial \varepsilon_k} - \sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i}\frac{\partial x_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon _k}\right) + \mathcal{L}\frac{\partial x_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon _k}\right] = 0

I can hardly remember this, and as I've indexed it I can't turn it into anything involving what I *think* is the Hamiltonian for a functional of several independent variables

\mathcal{H} = \sum_{j=1}^np_{ij}\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i} - \mathcal{L} = \sum_{j=1}^n \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i} - \mathcal{L}

Can this be turned into something similar to my main equation, perhaps using \delta_{ij}'s or g_{\mu \nu}'s or something?

An attempt:

\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}\left(\frac{\partial u_j^*}{\partial \varepsilon_k} - \sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i}\frac{\partial x_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon _k}\right) + \mathcal{L}\frac{\partial x_i^*}{\partial \varepsilon _k}\right] = 0

\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}\left(d u_j^* - \sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i}d x_i^* \right) + \mathcal{L}d x_i^* \right] = 0

\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}d u_j^* - \sum_{k=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_k}{\partial x_i})}\sum_{l=1}^n\frac{\partial u_k}{\partial x_l}d x_l^* + \mathcal{L}d x_i^* \right] = 0\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}d u_j^* - \sum_{k=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_k}{\partial x_i})}\sum_{l=1}^n\frac{\partial u_k}{\partial x_l}d x_l^* + \sum_{l=1}^n\delta^l_i \mathcal{L}d x_l^* \right] = 0\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}d u_j^* - \sum_{l=1}^n (\sum_{k=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_k}{\partial x_i})}\frac{\partial u_k}{\partial x_l} - \delta^l_i \mathcal{L})d x_l^* \right] = 0\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{\partial (\tfrac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_i})}d u_j^* - \sum_{l=1}^n \mathcal{H}d x_l^* \right] = 0.\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{\partial}{\partial x_i}\left[\sum_{j=1}^m p_{ij}d u_j^* - \sum_{l=1}^n \mathcal{H}d x_l^* \right] = 0.

I don't know if that's right.
 
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Brilliant, thank you.
 

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