The jet formalism for Classical Field theories is extended to the setting of Lie algebroids. We define the analog of the concept of jet of a section of a bundle and we study some of the geometric structures of the jet manifold. When a Lagrangian function is given, we find the equations of motion in terms of a Cartan form canonically associated to the Lagrangian. The Hamiltonian formalism is also extended to this setting and we find the relation between the solutions of both formalism. When the first Lie algebroid is a tangent bundle we give a variational description of the equations of motion. In addition to the standard case, our formalism includes as particular examples the case of systems with symmetry (covariant Euler-Poincare and Lagrange Poincare cases), variational problems for holomorphic maps, Sigma models or Chern-Simons theories. One of the advantages of our theory is that it is based in the existence of a multisymplectic form on a Lie algebroid.
We introduce a notion of a homotopy momentum section on a Lie algebroid over a pre-multisymplectic manifold. A homotopy momentum section is a generalization of the momentum map with a Lie group action and the momentum section on a pre-symplectic manifold, and is also regarded as a generalization of the homotopy momentum map on a multisymplectic manifold. We show that a gauged nonlinear sigma model with Wess-Zumino term with Lie algebroid gauging has the homotopy momentum section structure.
A geometric multisymplectic formulation of the classical BRST symmetry of constrained first-order classical field theories is described. To effect this we introduce graded analogues of the bundles and manifolds of the multisymplectic formulation of first-order field theories. The Lagrange-d'Alembert formalism is also developed in terms of the multisymplectic framework. The result is a covariant Hamiltonian BFV formalism.
In this paper the notion of Tulczyjew's triples in classical mechanics is extended to classical field theories, using the so-called multisymplectic formalism, and a convenient notion of lagrangian submanifold in multisymplectic geometry. Accordingly, the dynamical equations are interpreted as the local equations defining these lagrangian submanifolds.
The variational formalism for classical field theories is extended to the setting of Lie algebroids. Given a Lagrangian function we study the problem of finding critical points of the action functional when we restrict the fields to be morphisms of Lie algebroids. In addition to the standard case, our formalism includes as particular examples the case of systems with symmetry (covariant Euler-Poincare and Lagrange Poincare cases), Sigma models or Chern-Simons theories.
We examine Lie (super)algebroids equipped with a homological section, i.e., an odd section that `self-commutes', we refer to such Lie algebroids as inner Q-algebroids: these provide natural examples of suitably "superised" Q-algebroids in the sense of Mehta. Such Lie algebroids are a natural generalisation of Q-manifolds and Lie superalgebras equipped with a homological element. Amongst other results, we show that, via the derived bracket formalism, the space of sections of an inner Q-algebroid comes equipped with an odd Loday-Leibniz bracket.
Reductions of higher tangent bundles of Lie groupoids provide natural examples of geometric structures which we would like to call higher algebroids. Such objects can be also constructed abstractly starting from an arbitrary almost Lie algebroid. A higher algebroid is, in principle, a graded bundle equipped with a differential relation of special kind (a Zakrzewski morphism). In the paper we investigate basic properties of higher algebroids and show some applications. Namely, we develop a geometric framework for variational calculus on higher algebroids (including both forces and momenta). Suc…
In some previous papers, a geometric description of Lagrangian Mechanics on Lie algebroids has been developed. In the present paper, we give a Hamiltonian description of Mechanics on Lie algebroids. In addition, we introduce the notion of a Lagrangian submanifold of a symplectic Lie algebroid and we prove that the Lagrangian (Hamiltonian) dynamics on Lie algebroids may be described in terms of Lagrangian submanifolds of symplectic Lie algebroids. The Lagrangian (Hamiltonian) formalism on Lie algebroids permits to deal with Lagrangian (Hamiltonian) functions not defined necessarily on tangent (…
We generalize the $(n+1)$-dimensional twisted $R$-Poisson topological sigma model with flux on a target Poisson manifold to a Lie algebroid. Analyzing consistency of constraints in the Hamiltonian formalism and the gauge symmetry in the Lagrangian formalism, geometric conditions of the target space to make the topological sigma model consistent are identified. The geometric condition is an universal compatibility condition of a Lie algebroid with the multi-symplectic structure. This condition is a generalization of the momentum map theory of a Lie group and is regarded as a generalization of t…
This paper presents a geometric description on Lie algebroids of Lagrangian systems subject to nonholonomic constraints. The Lie algebroid framework provides a natural generalization of classical tangent bundle geometry. We define the notion of nonholonomically constrained system, and characterize regularity conditions that guarantee the dynamics of the system can be obtained as a suitable projection of the unconstrained dynamics. The proposed novel formalism provides new insights into the geometry of nonholonomic systems, and allows us to treat in a unified way a variety of situations, includ…
A natural geometric framework is proposed, based on ideas of W. M. Tulczyjew, for constructions of dynamics on general algebroids. One obtains formalisms similar to the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian ones. In contrast with recently studied concepts of Analytical Mechanics on Lie algebroids, this approach requires much less than the presence of a Lie algebroid structure on a vector bundle, but it still reproduces the main features of the Analytical Mechanics, like the Euler-Lagrange-type equations, the correspondence between the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian functions (Legendre transform) in the h…
We review some recent results on the theory of Lagrangian systems on Lie algebroids. In particular we consider the symplectic and variational formalism and we study reduction. Finally we also consider optimal control systems on Lie algebroids and we show how to reduce Pontryagin maximum principle.
We propose a generalization of the momentum map on a symplectic manifold with a Lie algebra action to a Courant algebroid structure. The theory of a momentum section on a Lie algebroid is generalized to the theory compatible with a Courant algebroid. As an example, we identify the momentum section in a constrained Hamiltonian mechanics with Courant algebroid symmetry. Moreover, we construct cohomological formulations by considering the BFV and BV formalism of this Hamiltonian system. The Weil algebra for this structure is constructed.
Jacobi algebroids (i.e. `Jacobi versions' of Lie algebroids) are studied in the context of graded Jacobi brackets on graded commutative algebras. This unifies varios concepts of graded Lie structures in geometry and physics. A method of describing such structures by classical Lie algebroids via certain gauging (in the spirit of E.Witten's gauging of exterior derivative) is developed. One constructs a corresponding Cartan differential calculus (graded commutative one) in a natural manner. This, in turn, gives canonical generating operators for triangular Jacobi algebroids. One gets, in particul…
A solution for the Weinstein's Problem in the general framework of generalized Lie algebroids is the target of this paper. We present the mechanical systems called by use, mechanical (?; ?)-systems, Lagrange mechanical (?; ?)-systems or Finsler mechanical (?; ?)-systems and we develop their geometries. We obtain the canonical (?; ?)-semi(spray) associated to a mechanical (?; ?)-system. The Lagrange mechanical (?; ?)-systems are the spaces necessary to develop a Lagrangian formalism. We obtain the (?; ?)-semispray associated to a regular Lagrangian L and external force Fe and we derive the equa…
A general form for the boundary coupling of a Lie algebroid Poisson sigma model is proposed. The approach involves using the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism in the AKSZ geometrical version, to write a BRST-invariant coupling for a representation up to homotopy of the target Lie algebroid or its subalgebroids. These considerations lead to a conjectural description of topological D-branes on generalized complex manifolds, which includes A-branes and B-branes as special cases.
Chern-Simons gauge theories in 3 dimensions and the Poisson Sigma Model (PSM) in 2 dimensions are examples of the same theory, if their field equations are interpreted as morphisms of Lie algebroids and their symmetries (on-shell) as homotopies of such morphisms. We point out that the (off-shell) gauge symmetries of the PSM in the literature are not globally well-defined for non-parallelizable Poisson manifolds and propose a covariant definition of them as left action of some finite-dimensional Lie algebroid. Our approach allows to avoid complications arising in the infinite dimensional super-…
A new description, different by the classical theory of Hamiltonian Mechanics, in the general framework of generalized Lie algebroids is presented. In the particular case of Lie algebroids, new and important results are obtained. We present the \emph{dual mechanical systems} called by use, \emph{dual mechanical}$(ρ,η) $\emph{-systems, Hamilton mechanical}$(ρ,η) $\emph{-systems} or \emph{% Cartan mechanical}$(ρ,η) $\emph{-systems.} and we develop their geometries. We obtain the canonical $(ρ,η) $\emph{-}semi(spray) associated to a dual mechanical $(ρ,η) $-system. The Hamilton mechanical $(ρ,η)$…
We consider the geometric formulation of the Hamiltonian formalism for field theory in terms of {\em Hamiltonian connections} and {\em multisymplectic forms}. In this framework the covariant Hamilton equations for Mechanics and field theory are defined in terms of multisymplectic $(n+2)$--forms, where $n$ is the dimension of the basis manifold, together with connections on the configuration bundle. We provide a new geometric Hamiltonian description of field theory, based on the introduction of a suitable {\em composite fibered bundle} which plays the role of an {\em extended configuration bund…
We use the supergeometric formalism, more precisely, the so-called "big bracket" (for which brackets and anchors are encoded by functions on some graded symplectic manifold) to address the theory of Jacobi algebroids and bialgebroids (following mainly Iglesias-Marrero and Grabowski-Marmo as a guideline). This formalism is in particular efficient to define the Jacobi-Gerstenhaber algebra structure associated to a Jacobi algebroid, to define its Poissonization, and to express the compatibility condition defining Jacobi bialgebroids. Also, we claim that this supergeometric language gives a simple…
The aim of this paper is to propose an unambiguous intrinsic formalism for higher-order field theories which avoids the arbitrariness in the generalization of the conventional description of field theories, which implies the existence of different Cartan forms and Legendre transformations. We propose a differential-geometric setting for the dynamics of a higher-order field theory, based on the Skinner and Rusk formalism for mechanics. This approach incorporates aspects of both, the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian description, since the field equations are formulated using the Lagrangian on a hi…
Elie Cartan's general equivalence problem is recast in the language of Lie algebroids. The resulting formalism, being coordinate and model-free, allows for a full geometric interpretation of Cartan's method of equivalence via reduction and prolongation. We show how to construct certain normal forms (Cartan algebroids) for objects of finite-type, and are able to interpret these directly as infinitesimal symmetries deformed by curvature.' Details are developed for transitive structures but rudiments of the theory include intransitive structures (intransitive symmetry deformations). Detailed illu…
We reexamine the notions of generalized Ricci tensor and scalar curvature on a general Courant algebroid, reformulate them using objects natural w.r.t. pull-backs and reductions, and obtain them from the variation of a natural action functional. This allows us to prove, in a very general setup, the compatibility of the Poisson-Lie T-duality with the renormalization group flow and with string background equations. We thus extend the known results to a much wider class of dualities, including the cases with gauging (so called dressing cosets, or equivariant Poisson-Lie T-duality). As an illustra…
A new geometric framework is developed to describe non-conservative classical field theories, which is based on multisymplectic and contact geometries. Assuming certain additional conditions and using the forms that define this multicontact structure, as well as other geometric elements that are derived from them, we can introduce variational field equations in the multicontact manifolds. These equations are stated using different geometric tools; namely, sections, multivector fields and Ehresmann connections in fiber bundles. Then, this framework can be adapted to the jet bundle description o…
The fundamental theorem of the theory of optimal control, the Pontryagin maximum principle (PMP), is extended to the setting of almost Lie (AL) algebroids, geometrical objects generalizing Lie algebroids. This formulation of the PMP yields, in particular, a scheme comprising reductions of optimal control problems similar to the reduction for the rigid body in analytical mechanics. On the other hand, in the presented approach the reduced and unreduced PMPs are parts of the same universal formalism. The framework is based on a very general concept of homotopy of measurable paths and the geometry…
The multisymplectic formalism of field theories developed by many mathematicians over the last fifty years is extended in this work to deal with manifolds that have boundaries. In particular, we develop a multisymplectic framework for first order covariant Hamiltonian field theories on manifolds with boundaries. This work is a geometric fulfillment of Fock's characterization of field theories as it appears in recent work by Cattaneo, Mnev and Reshetikhin [Ca14]. This framework leads to a true geometric understanding of conventional choices for boundary conditions. For example, the boundary con…
In the two papers of this series, we initiate the development of a new approach to implementing the concept of symmetry in classical field theory, based on replacing Lie groups/algebras by Lie groupoids/algebroids, which are the appropriate mathematical tools to describe local symmetries when gauge transformations are combined with space-time transformations. In this second part, we shall adapt the formalism developed in the first paper to the context of gauge theories and deal with minimal coupling and Utiyama's theorem.
