Variational calculus with constraints on general algebroids
Abstract
Variational calculus on a vector bundle E equipped with a structure of a general algebroid is developed, together with the corresponding analogs of Euler-Lagrange equations. Constrained systems are introduced in the variational and geometrical settings. The constrained Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for analogs of holonomic, vakonomic and nonholonomic constraints. This general model covers the majority of first-order Lagrangian systems which are present in the literature and reduces to the standard variational calculus and the Euler-Lagrange equations in classical mechanics for E = TM.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Physics A Mathematical General
- Pub Date:
- May 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1088/1751-8113/41/17/175204
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0712.2766
- Bibcode:
- 2008JPhA...41q5204G
- Keywords:
-
- Mathematical Physics;
- Mathematics - Differential Geometry;
- 70H03;
- 70H25;
- 53D17;
- 17B66;
- 53D10
- E-Print:
- 23 pages, a few references added, the version to appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Theor