# Constructing Lagrangian from the Hamiltonian

Given the Lagrangian $L$ for a system, we can construct the Hamiltonian $H$ using the definition $H=\sum\limits_{i}p_i\dot{q}_i-L$ where $p_i=\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot{q}_i}$. Therefore, to determine, $p_i$ we need to know $L$.

Now suppose, we are given the Hamiltonian $H$. Can we then reconstruct the Lagrangian $L$? Certainly the relation $L=\sum\limits_{i}p_i\dot{q}_i-H$ is not helpful because there is no prescription how to determine $p_i$ without knowing $L$.

• The Legendre transform is involutive – Phoenix87 Jun 20 '15 at 17:28

Yes, there exists a Legendre transformation from $g(p)$ to $f(x)$: $$f(x)=p(x)x-g(p(x))$$ with $x=dg/dp$. Here the notation $p(x)$ means $p$ written in terms of $x$. In your case, the Hamiltonian is a function of $p$ and you are transforming it to a function of $\dot{q}$, so you must use Hamilton's equation to get the velocity: $$\dot{q}_i=\frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}$$ which you then solve for $p$ (so that it's a function of $\dot{q}$, e.g. $p=h(\dot{q})$). You then have your Lagrangian as $$L(q,\dot{q})=\dot{q}_ih(\dot{q}_i)-H(q,h(\dot{q}))$$

For the (relativistic) Hamiltonian1, $$H(q,p)=\sqrt{p^2c^2+m^2c^4}+V(q)$$ the momentum should be $$p(\dot{q})=\frac{m\dot{q}}{\sqrt{1-\dot{q}^2/c^2}}$$ which was computed using $\dot{q}=\partial H/\partial p$ & then inverting to get $p$ in terms of $\dot{q}$. You should verify that this is correct (but it does look right to the relativistic momentum, $p=\gamma mv$). Then you can just do the substitution and get your Lagrangian.

1. This particular Hamiltonian was included in version 2 of this question, but was since removed; as it still provides an example of the $H\to L$ transform, I kept it in.

First of all, the hamiltonian contains the coordinates $q_i$ and their momenta $p_i$. You have to calculate the velocities $\dot{q}_i$. For that, you'll need the Hamilton-Jacobi equations $$\dot{q}_i = \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}$$The Legendre transform, as noted in the comments, is involutive, so the lagrangian is just the Legendre transform of the hamiltonian $$L = \sum_i p_i \dot{q}_i - H$$ where you have to express everywhere the momenta in terms of the velocities.

Worked-out example: harmonic oscillator. The well-known hamiltonian is $$H = \frac{p^2}{2m} + \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2 q^2$$ From the Hamilton-Jacobi we get (unsurprisingly) that $$\dot{q} = \frac{\partial H}{\partial p} = \frac{p}{m}$$ And plug it in the Legendre transform $$L = \dot{q}p - H = \dot{q}(\dot{q} m) - \frac{(\dot{q}m)^2}{2m} - \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2 q^2 = \frac{1}{2}m \dot{q}^2 - \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2 q^2$$Which is indeed the lagrangian for the harmonic oscillator.

• Note: this answers the first version of the question, wich didn't mention the relativistic hamiltonian. As Kyle addressed this point before me, I won't expand my answer. – Bosoneando Jun 20 '15 at 17:59
• I have removed the second part because now the strategy of answering that is obvious – SRS Jun 21 '15 at 3:53

Let us suppress explicit time dependence $t$ from the notation in the following. Hamilton's eqs. are the Euler-Lagrange (EL) eqs. for the so-called Hamiltonian Lagrangian

$$\tag{1} L_H(q,\dot{q},p)~:=~ p_i\dot{q}^i-H(q,p).$$

In other words, the solutions to Hamilton's eqs. are stationary points for the Hamiltonian action

$$\tag{2} S_H[q,p]~:=~\int \! dt~L_H(q,\dot{q},p).$$

Next define the Lagrangian as

$$\tag{3} L(q,\dot{q})~:=~\sup_p L_H(q,\dot{q},p).$$

Formula (3) is the succinct answer to OP's question about how to construct the Lagrangian from the Hamiltonian.

The Legendre transformation (3) is often referred to as integrating out$^1$ the momentum variables $p_i$. Then the action (2) becomes

$$\tag{4} S[q]~:=~\int \! dt~L(q,\dot{q}).$$

The stationary points of the action (4) are given by the EL eqs. for $L$.

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$^1$ If we go beyond classical mechanics, and consider the phase space path integral formulation, then "integrating out the momentum" is exactly what is happening.