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Consider a canonical transformation $(p,q) \rightarrow (P,Q)$ under a generating function $F$. The condition for form invariance of Hamiltonian equations of motion looks like : $$\sum_{s}P_s\dot{Q_s} - H' = \sum_{s,r}(\frac{\partial{q_s}}{\partial{Q_r}}\dot{Q_r} + \frac{\partial{q_s}}{\partial{P_r}}\dot{P_r}) + \sum_sp_s\frac{\partial{q_s}}{\partial{t}} - H + \sum_r(\frac{\partial F}{\partial Q_r}\dot{Q_r} + \frac{\partial F}{\partial P_r}\dot{P_r}) + \frac{\partial F}{\partial t}\tag{22}$$

As quoted in "Classical Dynamics - a modern perspective, Sudarshan, Mukunda", the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of $F$ are the following three integrability conditions (24a-c):

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Where do these come from and what is the missing link between these two statements?

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1 Answer 1

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  1. Let us for later convenience introduce a collective notation $$ (Z^1,\ldots,Z^{2n}) ~=~ (Q^1, \ldots, Q^n;P_1,\ldots, P_n) $$ for the new phase space variables.

  2. Next note that the integrability conditions (24a-c) are Maxwell relations $$\tag{24'} \frac{\partial \Theta_I}{\partial Z^J} ~=~(I \leftrightarrow J), \qquad I,J~\in~\{1,\ldots, 2n\}, $$ for some functions $\Theta_I=\Theta_I(Z,t)$, whose explicit form is given in Ref. 1.

  3. Equivalently, the one-form $$ \Theta~=~\sum_{I=1}^{2n} \Theta_I ~\mathrm{d}Z^I $$ is closed $$ \tag{24''} \mathrm{d}\Theta~=~ 0. $$

  4. Poincare Lemma then states that there exists$^1$ a function/zero-form $F=F(Z,t)$ such that $$ \tag{23''}\Theta~=~\mathrm{d}F. $$

  5. Equivalently, $$ \tag{23'} \Theta_I~=~\frac{\partial F}{\partial Z^I}, \qquad I~\in~\{1,\ldots, 2n\}, $$ which is the content of eqs. (23a-b) in Ref. 1.

  6. Conversely, if $F$ exists, then $\Theta$ is closed, since $\mathrm{d}^2=0$. Hence the integrability conditions (24a-c) are necessary and sufficient$^1$ condition for the existence of $F$.

References:

  1. E.C.G. Sudarshan & N. Mukunda, Classical Dynamics: A Modern Perspective, 1974; p.36.

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$^1$ Mathematical caveat: The existence of the function $F$ is only guaranteed in a contractible region of phase space.

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