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  1. The Lagrangian can be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian (1). In eq. (3) OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint$^1$ $$\dot{x}^2~:=~g_{\mu\nu}(x)~ \dot{x}^{\mu}\dot{x}^{\nu}~\approx ~0, \qquad \dot{x}^{\mu}~:=~\frac{dx^{\mu}}{d\tau}, \tag{A}$$ where $\tau$ is the world-line (WL) parameter (which does not have to be the proper time).

  2. The Lagrangian becomes the massless limit of$^2$ $$ L~=~\lambda \dot{x}^2-\frac{m^2}{4\lambda} - V,\tag{B} $$ where $\lambda(\tau)$ is a Lagrange multiplier, cf. e.g. this Phys.SE post.

  3. The momentum for the Lagrangian is $$ p_{\mu}~:=~\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}^{\mu}}~=~2\lambda g_{\mu\nu}(x)~\dot{x}^{\nu}, \tag{C}$$ so that the corresponding Hamiltonian is $$ H~=~\frac{p^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V. \tag{D}$$

  4. Therefore the Hamiltonian Lagrangian becomes $$ L_H~:=~ p_{\mu} \dot{x}^{\mu} - H. \tag{E} $$

  5. Let us now go to the static gauge $x^0=\tau$. If we integrate out $p^0$ and $\lambda$, we get$^3$ $$\begin{align} \left. L_H\right|_{x^0=\tau} \quad\stackrel{p^0}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x}- \underbrace{\left(\lambda + \frac{{\bf p}^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}}\cr\cr \quad\stackrel{\lambda}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x} - \underbrace{\left(\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2}+V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}} .\end{align}\tag{F} $$ A similar argument was given in eq. (3) of my Phys.SE answer here.

  6. If we put the mass $m\to 0$ then the square-root Hamiltonian (F) becomes precisely OP's Hamiltonian (1). This confirms our claim that the massless limit of eq. (B) is the correctOP's sought-for Lagrangian.

--

$^1$ Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$ and with Minkowski sign convention $(-,+,+,+)$.

$^2$ The massterm in eq. (B) is included for generality and is not essential. The only slightly strange thing is that we restrict the $\lambda$ target-space from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}_+$. This latter point is also discussed in my Phys.SE answer here.

$^3$ A similar argument was given in eq. (3) of my Phys.SE answer here, where the Lagrange multiplier $\lambda=\frac{1}{2e}$ is replaced by an einbein field $e$.

  1. The Lagrangian can be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian (1). OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint$^1$ $$\dot{x}^2~:=~g_{\mu\nu}(x)~ \dot{x}^{\mu}\dot{x}^{\nu}~\approx ~0, \qquad \dot{x}^{\mu}~:=~\frac{dx^{\mu}}{d\tau}, \tag{A}$$ where $\tau$ is the world-line (WL) parameter (which does not have to be the proper time).

  2. The Lagrangian becomes the massless limit of$^2$ $$ L~=~\lambda \dot{x}^2-\frac{m^2}{4\lambda} - V,\tag{B} $$ where $\lambda(\tau)$ is a Lagrange multiplier, cf. e.g. this Phys.SE post.

  3. The momentum for the Lagrangian is $$ p_{\mu}~:=~\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}^{\mu}}~=~2\lambda g_{\mu\nu}(x)~\dot{x}^{\nu}, \tag{C}$$ so that the corresponding Hamiltonian is $$ H~=~\frac{p^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V. \tag{D}$$

  4. Therefore the Hamiltonian Lagrangian becomes $$ L_H~:=~ p_{\mu} \dot{x}^{\mu} - H. \tag{E} $$

  5. Let us now go to the static gauge $x^0=\tau$. If we integrate out $p^0$ and $\lambda$, we get $$\begin{align} \left. L_H\right|_{x^0=\tau} \quad\stackrel{p^0}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x}- \underbrace{\left(\lambda + \frac{{\bf p}^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}}\cr\cr \quad\stackrel{\lambda}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x} - \underbrace{\left(\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2}+V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}} .\end{align}\tag{F} $$ A similar argument was given in eq. (3) of my Phys.SE answer here.

  6. If we put the mass $m\to 0$ the square-root Hamiltonian (F) becomes precisely OP's Hamiltonian (1). This confirms our claim that the massless limit of eq. (B) is the correct Lagrangian.

--

$^1$ Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$ and with Minkowski sign convention $(-,+,+,+)$.

$^2$ The massterm in eq. (B) is included for generality and is not essential. The only slightly strange thing is that we restrict the $\lambda$ target-space from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}_+$. This latter point is also discussed in my Phys.SE answer here.

  1. The Lagrangian can be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian (1). In eq. (3) OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint$^1$ $$\dot{x}^2~:=~g_{\mu\nu}(x)~ \dot{x}^{\mu}\dot{x}^{\nu}~\approx ~0, \qquad \dot{x}^{\mu}~:=~\frac{dx^{\mu}}{d\tau}, \tag{A}$$ where $\tau$ is the world-line (WL) parameter (which does not have to be the proper time).

  2. The Lagrangian becomes the massless limit of$^2$ $$ L~=~\lambda \dot{x}^2-\frac{m^2}{4\lambda} - V,\tag{B} $$ where $\lambda(\tau)$ is a Lagrange multiplier, cf. e.g. this Phys.SE post.

  3. The momentum for the Lagrangian is $$ p_{\mu}~:=~\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}^{\mu}}~=~2\lambda g_{\mu\nu}(x)~\dot{x}^{\nu}, \tag{C}$$ so that the corresponding Hamiltonian is $$ H~=~\frac{p^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V. \tag{D}$$

  4. Therefore the Hamiltonian Lagrangian becomes $$ L_H~:=~ p_{\mu} \dot{x}^{\mu} - H. \tag{E} $$

  5. Let us now go to the static gauge $x^0=\tau$. If we integrate out $p^0$ and $\lambda$, we get$^3$ $$\begin{align} \left. L_H\right|_{x^0=\tau} \quad\stackrel{p^0}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x}- \underbrace{\left(\lambda + \frac{{\bf p}^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}}\cr\cr \quad\stackrel{\lambda}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x} - \underbrace{\left(\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2}+V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}} .\end{align}\tag{F} $$

  6. If we put the mass $m\to 0$ then the square-root Hamiltonian (F) becomes precisely OP's Hamiltonian (1). This confirms our claim that the massless limit of eq. (B) is OP's sought-for Lagrangian.

--

$^1$ Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$ and with Minkowski sign convention $(-,+,+,+)$.

$^2$ The massterm in eq. (B) is included for generality and is not essential. The only slightly strange thing is that we restrict the $\lambda$ target-space from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}_+$. This latter point is also discussed in my Phys.SE answer here.

$^3$ A similar argument was given in eq. (3) of my Phys.SE answer here, where the Lagrange multiplier $\lambda=\frac{1}{2e}$ is replaced by an einbein field $e$.

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Qmechanic
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Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$.

  1. The Lagrangian can be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian is then just the massless version of(1). OP has already correctly identified the standard Hamiltonianprimary constraint$^1$ $$\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2} +V$$ for a relativistic point particle. It$$\dot{x}^2~:=~g_{\mu\nu}(x)~ \dot{x}^{\mu}\dot{x}^{\nu}~\approx ~0, \qquad \dot{x}^{\mu}~:=~\frac{dx^{\mu}}{d\tau}, \tag{A}$$ where $\tau$ is knownthe world-line (WL) parameter (which does not have to be the Legendre transformation of the standardproper time).

  2. The Lagrangian becomes the massless limit of$^2$ $$L~=~\frac{\dot{x}^2}{2e}-\frac{e m^2}{2}-V$$$$ L~=~\lambda \dot{x}^2-\frac{m^2}{4\lambda} - V,\tag{B} $$ forwhere $\lambda(\tau)$ is a relativistic point particleLagrange multiplier, cf. e.g. this Phys.SE post.

  3. The momentum for the Lagrangian is $$ p_{\mu}~:=~\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}^{\mu}}~=~2\lambda g_{\mu\nu}(x)~\dot{x}^{\nu}, \tag{C}$$ so that the corresponding Hamiltonian is $$ H~=~\frac{p^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V. \tag{D}$$

  4. Therefore the Hamiltonian Lagrangian becomes $$ L_H~:=~ p_{\mu} \dot{x}^{\mu} - H. \tag{E} $$

  5. Let us now go to the static gauge $x^0=\tau$. If we integrate out $p^0$ and $\lambda$, we get $$\begin{align} \left. L_H\right|_{x^0=\tau} \quad\stackrel{p^0}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x}- \underbrace{\left(\lambda + \frac{{\bf p}^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}}\cr\cr \quad\stackrel{\lambda}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x} - \underbrace{\left(\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2}+V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}} .\end{align}\tag{F} $$ A similar argument was given in eq. (3) inof my Phys.SE answer here. In particular, the Lagrangian does exist.

  6. The Lagrangian can also be constructed directly by performing a DiracIf we put the mass $m\to 0$ the square-Bergmann constraint analysis ofroot Hamiltonian (F) becomes precisely OP's Hamiltonian (1). OP has already correctly identifiedThis confirms our claim that the massless limit of eq. primary constraint(B) is the correct Lagrangian.

--

$^1$ Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$ and with Minkowski sign convention $(-,+,+,+)$.

$^2$ The massterm in eq. (B) is included for generality and is not essential. The only slightly strange thing is that we restrict the $\lambda$ target-space from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}_+$. This latter point is also discussed in my Phys.SE answer here.

Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$.

  1. OP's Hamiltonian is then just the massless version of the standard Hamiltonian $$\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2} +V$$ for a relativistic point particle. It is known to be the Legendre transformation of the standard Lagrangian $$L~=~\frac{\dot{x}^2}{2e}-\frac{e m^2}{2}-V$$ for a relativistic point particle, cf. eq. (3) in my Phys.SE answer here. In particular, the Lagrangian does exist.

  2. The Lagrangian can also be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian. OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint.

  1. The Lagrangian can be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian (1). OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint$^1$ $$\dot{x}^2~:=~g_{\mu\nu}(x)~ \dot{x}^{\mu}\dot{x}^{\nu}~\approx ~0, \qquad \dot{x}^{\mu}~:=~\frac{dx^{\mu}}{d\tau}, \tag{A}$$ where $\tau$ is the world-line (WL) parameter (which does not have to be the proper time).

  2. The Lagrangian becomes the massless limit of$^2$ $$ L~=~\lambda \dot{x}^2-\frac{m^2}{4\lambda} - V,\tag{B} $$ where $\lambda(\tau)$ is a Lagrange multiplier, cf. e.g. this Phys.SE post.

  3. The momentum for the Lagrangian is $$ p_{\mu}~:=~\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{x}^{\mu}}~=~2\lambda g_{\mu\nu}(x)~\dot{x}^{\nu}, \tag{C}$$ so that the corresponding Hamiltonian is $$ H~=~\frac{p^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V. \tag{D}$$

  4. Therefore the Hamiltonian Lagrangian becomes $$ L_H~:=~ p_{\mu} \dot{x}^{\mu} - H. \tag{E} $$

  5. Let us now go to the static gauge $x^0=\tau$. If we integrate out $p^0$ and $\lambda$, we get $$\begin{align} \left. L_H\right|_{x^0=\tau} \quad\stackrel{p^0}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x}- \underbrace{\left(\lambda + \frac{{\bf p}^2+m^2}{4\lambda} + V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}}\cr\cr \quad\stackrel{\lambda}{\longrightarrow}&\quad {\bf p}\cdot \dot{\bf x} - \underbrace{\left(\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2}+V\right)}_{\text{Hamiltonian}} .\end{align}\tag{F} $$ A similar argument was given in eq. (3) of my Phys.SE answer here.

  6. If we put the mass $m\to 0$ the square-root Hamiltonian (F) becomes precisely OP's Hamiltonian (1). This confirms our claim that the massless limit of eq. (B) is the correct Lagrangian.

--

$^1$ Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$ and with Minkowski sign convention $(-,+,+,+)$.

$^2$ The massterm in eq. (B) is included for generality and is not essential. The only slightly strange thing is that we restrict the $\lambda$ target-space from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}_+$. This latter point is also discussed in my Phys.SE answer here.

Added explanation
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Qmechanic
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Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$.

  1. OP's Hamiltonian is then just the massless version of the standard Hamiltonian $$\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2} +V$$ for a relativistic point particle. It is known to be the Legendre transformation of the standard Lagrangian $$L~=~\frac{\dot{x}^2}{2e}-\frac{e m^2}{2}-V$$ for a relativistic point particle, cf. eq. (3) in my Phys.SE answer here. In particular, the Lagrangian does exist.

  2. The Lagrangian can also be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian. OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint.

Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$.

  1. OP's Hamiltonian is then just the massless version of the standard Hamiltonian $$\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2} +V$$ for a relativistic point particle. It is known to be the Legendre transformation of the standard Lagrangian $$L~=~\frac{\dot{x}^2}{2e}-\frac{e m^2}{2}-V$$ for a relativistic point particle, cf. eq. (3) in my Phys.SE answer here. In particular, the Lagrangian does exist.

  2. The Lagrangian can also be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian.

Let us work in units where the speed of light $c=1$.

  1. OP's Hamiltonian is then just the massless version of the standard Hamiltonian $$\sqrt{{\bf p}^2+m^2} +V$$ for a relativistic point particle. It is known to be the Legendre transformation of the standard Lagrangian $$L~=~\frac{\dot{x}^2}{2e}-\frac{e m^2}{2}-V$$ for a relativistic point particle, cf. eq. (3) in my Phys.SE answer here. In particular, the Lagrangian does exist.

  2. The Lagrangian can also be constructed directly by performing a Dirac-Bergmann constraint analysis of OP's Hamiltonian. OP has already correctly identified the primary constraint.

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