What Are Examples of Lagrangians in Various Disciplines?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around examples of Lagrangians across various disciplines, including mechanics, particle physics, general relativity, circuit theory, and economics. Participants explore the concept of Lagrangians and seek to identify and share examples from different fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a general form of the Lagrangian in mechanics as the kinetic energy minus potential energy, expressed as L(q, dq/dt) = K(q, dq/dt) - U(q).
  • Several participants express uncertainty about what is meant by "other disciplines" in the context of Lagrangians.
  • Examples of Lagrangians in various fields are mentioned, including references to general relativity and electromagnetism.
  • Another participant provides links to resources discussing Lagrangians in circuit theory and economics, suggesting that these applications exist.
  • A simpler example of a Lagrangian density for a classical scalar field in four dimensions is mentioned as a stepping-stone to quantum field theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definition of "other disciplines" and express varying levels of familiarity with Lagrangians outside of mechanics. Multiple competing views on the examples of Lagrangians exist, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some participants recall specific Lagrangians from particle physics but do not provide detailed examples. The discussion includes references to external resources, indicating a reliance on external definitions and examples.

JTC
Messages
100
Reaction score
6
Assuming generlized variables, q, we have a Lagrangian in mechanics as the kinetic energy, K, minus potential energy, U, with a dependency form such that

L(q,dq/dt) = K(q, dq/dt) - U(q)

Can someone provide examples of Lagrangians in other disciplines?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What do you mean by other disciplines?
 
PeroK said:
What do you mean by other disciplines?

I VAGUELY recall a Lagrangian in particle physics that was about a page long.

Just other examples of Lagrangians...
 
JTC said:
I VAGUELY recall a Lagrangian in particle physics that was about a page long.
An example of a much simpler Lagrangian of that type, which is often taught as a stepping-stone to quantum field theory:

Classical Scalar Field in Four Dimensions

Here we use not the Lagrangian of an entire system, but rather the Lagrangian density at each spacetime point.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
3K