The principle of least action in geometry and dynamics
By: Karl Friedrich Siburg.
Series: Lecture notes in mathematics,; 1844; Lecture notes in mathematics (Springer-Verlag) ;; 1844.
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Berlin; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 128
Subjects: Least action; Geometry, Algebraic; Dynamics
Description: New variational methods by Aubry, Mather, and Mane, discovered in the last twenty years, gave deep insight into the dynamics of convex Lagrangian systems. This book shows how this Principle of Least Action appears in a variety of settings (billiards, length spectrum, Hofer geometry, modern symplectic geometry). Thus, topics from modern dynamical systems and modern symplectic geometry are linked in a new and sometimes surprising way. The central object is Mather’s minimal action functional. The level is for graduate students onwards, but also for researchers in any of the subjects touched in the book.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.