In the framework of polysymplectic Hamiltonian formalism, degenerate Lagrangian field systems are described as multi-Hamiltonian systems with Lagrangian constraints. The physically relevant case of degenerate quadratic Lagrangians is analized in detail, and the Koszul--Tate resolution of Lagrangian constraints is constructed in an explicit form. The particular case of Hamiltonian mechanics with time-dependent constraints is studied.
The covariant Hamilton-Jacobi formulation of Maxwell's equations is derived from the first-order (Palatini-like) Lagrangian using the analysis of constraints within the De~Donder-Weyl covariant Hamiltonian formalism and the corresponding polysymplectic reduction.
I construct a global version of the local polysymplectic approach to covariant Hamiltonian field theory pioneered by C. Gunther. Beginning with the geometric framework of the theory, I specialize to vertical vector fields to construct the (poly)symplectic structures, derive Hamilton's field equations, and construct a more-or-less natural Poisson bracket. I then examine a few key examples to determine the nature of the necessary vertical projections and find that the theory provides the geometric analog of the canonical transformation approach to covariant Hamiltonian field theory advanced by S…
Covariant (polysymplectic) Hamiltonian field theory is formulated as a particular Lagrangian theory on a polysymplectic phase space that enables one to quantize it in the framework of familiar quantum field theory.
Applied to field theory, the familiar symplectic technique leads to instantaneous Hamiltonian formalism on an infinite-dimensional phase space. A true Hamiltonian partner of first order Lagrangian theory on fibre bundles $Y\to X$ is covariant Hamiltonian formalism in different variants, where momenta correspond to derivatives of fields relative to all coordinates on $X$. We follow polysymplectic (PS) Hamiltonian formalism on a Legendre bundle over $Y$ provided with a polysymplectic $TX$-valued form. If $X=\mathbb R$, this is a case of time-dependent non-relativistic mechanics. PS Hamiltonian f…
The prequantization map for a Poisson-Gerstenhaber algebra of dynamical variables represented by differential forms within the polysymplectic formulation of the De Donder--Weyl covariant Hamiltonian field theory is presented and the corresponding prequantum Schroedinger equation for a non-homogeneous form valued wave function is derived. This is the first step toward understanding the procedures of covariant precanonical field quantization from the point of view of geometric quantization.
It is the goal of this paper to present the first steps for defining the analogue of Hamiltonian Floer theory for covariant field theory, treating time and space relativistically. While there already exist a number of competing geometric frameworks for covariant field theory generalizing symplectic geometry, none of them are readily suitable for variational techniques such as Hamiltonian Floer theory, since the corresponding action functionals are too degenerate. Instead, we show how a regularization procedure introduced by Bridges leads to a new geometric framework for which we can show that …
The polysymplectic formulation of the CMPR action, which is a BF-type formulation of General Relativity that involves an arbitrary Immirzi parameter, is performed. We implement a particular scheme within this covariant Hamiltonian approach to analyze the constraints that characterize the CMPR model. By means of the privileged $(n-1)$-forms and the Poisson-Gerstenhaber bracket, inherent to the polysymplectic framework, the BF field equations associated to the CMPR action are obtained and, in consequence, the Einstein equations naturally emerge by solving the simplicity constraints of the theory…
We analyze the De Donder-Weyl covariant field equations for the topologically massive Yang-Mills theory. These equations are obtained through the Poisson-Gerstenhaber bracket described within the polysymplectic framework. Even though the Lagrangian defining the system of our interest is singular, we show that by appropriately choosing the polymomenta one may obtain an equivalent regular Lagrangian, thus avoiding the standard analysis of constraints. Further, our simple treatment allows us to only consider the privileged $(n-1)$-forms in order to obtain the correct field equations, in oppositio…
We study the relationship between the equations of first order Lagrangian field theory on fiber bundles and the covariant Hamilton equations on the finite-dimensional polysymplectic phase space of covariant Hamiltonian field theory. The main peculiarity of these Hamilton equations lies in the fact that, for degenerate systems, they contain additional gauge fixing conditions. We develop the BRST extension of the covariant Hamiltonian formalism, characterized by a Lie superalgebra of BRST and anti-BRST symmetries.
Motivated by the study of physical models associated with General Relativity, we review some finite-dimensional, geometric and covariant formulations that allow us to characterize in a simple manner the symmetries for classical field theory by implementing an appropriate fibre-bundle structure, either at the Lagrangian, the multisymplectic or the polysymplectic levels. In particular, we are able to formulate Noether's theorems by means of the covariant momentum maps and to systematically introduce a covariant Poisson-Hamiltonian framework. Also, by focusing on the space plus time decomposition…
Using a covariant and gauge invariant geometric structure constructed on the Witten covariant phase space for Dirac-Nambu-Goto bosonic p-branes propagating in a curved background, we find the canonically conjugate variables, and the relevant commutation relations are considered, as well as, we find the canonical variables for the Gauss-Bonnet topological term in string theory.
The formulation of a relativistic dynamical problem as a system of Hamilton equations by respecting the principles of Relativity is a delicate task, because in their classical form the Hamilton equations require the use of a time coordinate, which of course contradicts the Relativity. Two interesting solutions have been proposed during the last century: the covariant phase space and the multisymplectic formalism. These two approaches were inspired at the beginning by different points of view. However, as shown by works by Kijowski-Szczyrba, Forger-Romero and Vitagliano, a synthetic vision of t…
Many physically important mechanical systems may be described with a Lie group $G$ as configuration space. According to the well-known Noether's theorem, underlying symmetries of the Lie group may be used to considerably reduce the complexity of the problems. However, these reduction techniques, used without care for general problems (waves, field theory), may lead to uncomfortable infinite dimensional spaces. As an alternative, the \emph{covariant} formulation allows to consider a finite dimensional configuration space by increasing the number of independent variables. But the geometric eleme…
A space-time symmetric and explicitly Lorentz covariant path integral formalism of relativistic quantum mechanics is proposed, which produces partial locally correlations of quantum processes of massive particles with the velocity of light at low energy limits. A superluminal correlation is also possible if anti-particles that moving along reverse time direction are excited. This provides a new point of view to interpret EPR experiments, also leaks a light of hope for hidden variable theories.
The Lorentz-covariant quantization performed in the Hamiltonian path-integral formalism for massless non-Abelian gauge fields has been achieved. In this quantization, the Lorentz condition, as a constraint, must be introduced initially and incorporated into the Yang-Mills Lagrangian by the Lagrange undetermined multiplier method. In this way, it is found that all Lorentz components of a vector potential have thier corresponding conjugate canonical variables. This fact allows us to define Lorentz-invariant poisson brackets and carry out the quantization in a Lorent-covariant manner. Key words: …
The massive non-Abelian gauge fields are quantized Lorentz-covariantly in the Hamiltonian path-integral formalism. In the quantization, the Lorentz condition, as a necessary constraint, is introduced initially and incorporated into the massive Yang-Mills Lagrangian by the Lagrange multiplier method so as to make each temporal component of a vector potential to have a canonically conjugate counterpart. The result of this quantization is confirmed by the quantization performed in the Lagrangian path-integral formalism by applying the Lagrange multiplier method which is shown to be equivalent to …
A covariant Hamiltonian description was introduced in the dynamics of charges and electromagnetic interaction. By a canonical transformation this Hamiltonian formalism was transformed to obtain the Dirac generators for any form of relativistic dynamics, as coefficients of a first degree polynomial in the ten translation and rotation velocities of the Poincaré transformation. The Currie's world line conditions were generalized to any form of the dynamics. The explicit relation between the covariant field variables and the more usual 3-dimensional Fourier variables was derived.
The covariant canonical formalism is a covariant extension of the traditional canonical formalism of fields. In contrast to the traditional canonical theory, it has a remarkable feature that canonical equations of gauge theories or gravity are not only manifestly Lorentz covariant but also gauge covariant or diffeomorphism covariant. A mathematical peculiarity of the covariant canonical formalism is that its canonical coordinates are differential forms on a manifold. In the present paper, we find a natural Poisson bracket of this new canonical theory, and study symplectic structure behind it. …
We prove that, for any theory defined over a space-time with boundary, the symplectic form derived in the covariant phase space is equivalent to the one derived from the canonical formalism.
This papers is concerned with multisymplectic formalisms which are the frameworks for Hamiltonian theories for fields theory. Our main purpose is to study the observable $(n-1)$-forms which allows one to construct observable functionals on the set of solutions of the Hamilton equations by integration. We develop here two different points of view: generalizing the law $\{p,q\} = 1$ or the law $dF/dt = \{H,F\}$. This leads to two possible definitions; we explore the relationships and the differences between these two concepts. We show that -- in contrast with the de Donder--Weyl theory -- the tw…
We study spacetime diffeomorphisms in Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formalisms of generally covariant systems. We show that the gauge group for such a system is characterized by having generators which are projectable under the Legendre map. The gauge group is found to be much larger than the original group of spacetime diffeomorphisms, since its generators must depend on the lapse function and shift vector of the spacetime metric in a given coordinate patch. Our results are generalizations of earlier results by Salisbury and Sundermeyer. They arise in a natural way from using the requirement of …
Chern--Simons type Lagrangians in $d=3$ dimensions are analyzed from the point of view of their covariance and globality. We use the transgression formula to find out a new fully covariant and global Lagrangian for Chern--Simons gravity: the price for establishing globality is hidden in a bimetric (or biconnection) structure. Such a formulation allows to calculate from a global and simpler viewpoint the energy-momentum complex and the superpotential both for Yang--Mills and gravitational examples.
The present work contains a complete formulation of the Batalin-Vilkovisky (BV) formalism in the framework of locally covariant field theory. In the first part of the thesis the classical theory is investigated with a particular focus on the infinite dimensional character of the underlying structures. It is shown that the use of infinite dimensional differential geometry allows for a conceptually clear and elegant formulation. The construction of the BV complex is performed in a fully covariant way and we also generalize the BV framework to a more abstract level, using functors and natural tra…
This paper presents a "historical" formalism for dynamical systems, in its Hamiltonian version (Lagrangian version was presented in a previous paper). It is universal, in the sense that it applies equally well to time dynamics and to field theories on space-time. It is based on the notion of (Hamiltonian) histories, which are sections of the (extended) phase space bundle. It is developed in the space of sections, in contradistinction with the usual formalism which works in the bundle manifold. In field theories, the formalism remains covariant and does not require a spitting of space-time. It …
We bring together aspects of covariant Hamiltonian field theory and of classical integrable field theories in $1+1$ dimensions. Specifically, our main result is to obtain for the first time the classical $r$-matrix structure within a covariant Poisson bracket for the Lax connection, or Lax one form. This exhibits a certain covariant nature of the classical $r$-matrix with respect to the underlying spacetime variables. The main result is established by means of several prototypical examples of integrable field theories, all equipped with a Zakharov-Shabat type Lax pair. Full details are present…
We present a new variational framework for dissipative general relativistic fluid dynamics. The model extends the convective variational principle for multi-fluid systems to account for a range of dissipation channels. The key ingredients in the construction are i) the use of a lower dimensional matter space for each fluid component, and ii) an extended functional dependence for the associated volume forms. In an effort to make the concepts clear, the formalism is developed in steps with the model example of matter coupled to heat considered at each level. Thus we discuss a model for heat flow…
We investigate generators of local gauge transformations in the covariant canonical formalism (CCF) for matter fields, gauge fields and the second order formalism of gravity. The CCF treats space and time on an equal footing regarding the differential forms as the basic variables. The conjugate forms $π_A$ are defined as derivatives of the Lagrangian $d$-form $L(ψ^A, dψ^A)$ with respect to $dψ^A$, namely $π_A := \partial L/\partial dψ^A$, where $ψ^A $ are $p$-form dynamical fields. The form-canonical equations are derived from the form-Legendre transformation of the Lagrangian form $H:=dψ^A \w…
The main purpose in the present paper is to build a Hamiltonian theory for fields which is consistent with the principles of relativity. For this we consider detailed geometric pictures of Lepage theories in the spirit of Dedecker and try to stress out the interplay between the Lepage-Dedecker (LP) description and the (more usual) de Donder-Weyl (dDW) one. One of the main points is the fact that the Legendre transform in the dDW approach is replaced by a Legendre correspondence in the LP theory (This correspondence behaves differently: ignoring the singularities whenever the Lagrangian is dege…
It is well known that both the symplectic structure and the Poisson brackets of classical field theory can be constructed directly from the Lagrangian in a covariant way, without passing through the non-covariant canonical Hamiltonian formalism. This is true even in the presence of constraints and gauge symmetries. These constructions go under the names of the covariant phase space formalism and the Peierls bracket. We review both of them, paying more careful attention, than usual, to the precise mathematical hypotheses that they require, illustrating them in examples. Also an extensive histor…
We analyse the behaviour of the MacDowell-Mansouri action with internal symmetry group $\mathrm{SO}(4,1)$ under the covariant Hamiltonian formulation. The field equations, known in this formalism as the De Donder-Weyl equations, are obtained by means of the graded Poisson-Gerstenhaber bracket structure present within the covariant formulation. The decomposition of the internal algebra $\mathfrak{so}(4,1)\simeq\mathfrak{so}(3,1)\oplus\mathbb{R}^{3,1}$ allows the symmetry breaking $\mathrm{SO}(4,1)\to\mathrm{SO}(3,1)$, which reduces the original action to the Palatini action without the topologi…
We construct perturbative quantum gravity in a generally covariant way. In particular our construction is background independent. It is based on the locally covariant approach to quantum field theory and the renormalized Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism. We do not touch the problem of nonrenormalizability and interpret the theory as an effective theory at large length scales.
The main purpose in the present paper is to build a Hamiltonian theory for fields which is consistent with the principles of relativity. For this we consider detailed geometric pictures of Lepage theories in the spirit of Dedecker and try to stress out the interplay between the Lepage-Dedecker (LP) description and the (more usual) de Donder-Weyl (dDW) one. For instance the Legendre transform in the dDW approach is replaced by a Legendre correspondence in the LP theory, while ignoring singularities whenever the Lagrangian is degenerate. Moreover we show that there exist two different definition…
