The evolution operator connecting the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms for contact systems

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gràcia, Xavier, Martínez-Muñoz, Ángel, Rivas, Xavier, Román-Roy, Narciso
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gràcia, Xavier
Martínez-Muñoz, Ángel
Rivas, Xavier
Román-Roy, Narciso
author_facet Gràcia, Xavier
Martínez-Muñoz, Ángel
Rivas, Xavier
Román-Roy, Narciso
contents Some mechanical systems with dissipation can be described within the framework of the so-called contact mechanics: a modified form of the Euler-Lagrange equations stemming from Herglotz's variational principle, which admits a geometric formulation in terms of contact geometry. On the other hand, the study of singular Lagrangian systems and Dirac's theory of constraints can be enhanced by using the evolution operator $K$ that connects the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms. The main purpose of this paper is to transpose this evolution operator to the case of contact mechanics, and to study some of its main properties. In particular, we show that it provides a geometric description of the evolution equations and it relates the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian constraints. To illustrate the theory, we provide examples of singular contact systems based on modified versions of the simple pendulum and the Cawley Lagrangian.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_13401
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The evolution operator connecting the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms for contact systems
Gràcia, Xavier
Martínez-Muñoz, Ángel
Rivas, Xavier
Román-Roy, Narciso
Mathematical Physics
Differential Geometry
70G45, 37J39, 37J55, 70H03, 70H05, 70H45
Some mechanical systems with dissipation can be described within the framework of the so-called contact mechanics: a modified form of the Euler-Lagrange equations stemming from Herglotz's variational principle, which admits a geometric formulation in terms of contact geometry. On the other hand, the study of singular Lagrangian systems and Dirac's theory of constraints can be enhanced by using the evolution operator $K$ that connects the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms. The main purpose of this paper is to transpose this evolution operator to the case of contact mechanics, and to study some of its main properties. In particular, we show that it provides a geometric description of the evolution equations and it relates the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian constraints. To illustrate the theory, we provide examples of singular contact systems based on modified versions of the simple pendulum and the Cawley Lagrangian.
title The evolution operator connecting the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms for contact systems
topic Mathematical Physics
Differential Geometry
70G45, 37J39, 37J55, 70H03, 70H05, 70H45
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.13401