# Time evolution of Galilean boost

I was introduced the generator of Galilean boost $$K=mx-pt$$.

I was given an Hamiltonian with several particles: $$H=\sum_i \frac{p_i^2}{2m_i}+V(|x_i-x_j|)$$ where the potential only depends on the relative position between the particles.

I was asked to compute the poisson brackets $$\{K,H\}$$ and show that the general time evolution formula is given by : $$\frac{d K}{d t}=\frac{\partial K}{\partial t}+\left\{K, H\right\}.$$

I managed to derive the time evolution formula but I feel I am doing something wrong. First the Poisson brackets: \begin{align} \{K,H\}&= \frac{\partial K}{\partial x}\frac{\partial H}{\partial p}-\frac{\partial K}{\partial p}\frac{\partial H}{\partial x}\\ &=p+t\frac{ \partial V}{ \partial x}\\ &=p-t\frac{d p}{d t}.\\ \end{align}

I was told that $$\frac{d K}{d t}=0$$, which I do not understand why. I found: $$\frac{d K}{d t}=-t\frac{d p}{d t}\;(\,\neq 0\;?)$$

Finally, I read that the Poisson bracket $$\{K,H\}$$ describes the effect of an infinitesimal boost on the system’s energy. This eludes my understanding. I could show that the Hamiltonian changes when I perform a change of coordinates $$x'=x-v_0t$$, but I do not know how to link it with the Poisson brackets.

I find this an interesting topic, and if someone could help clarify my understanding with some explanations I would be very grateful. Any remark or link to references is always appreciated.

Your comment clarification is crucial. It indicates your potential is invariant under a translation, whether that translation is proportional to the time, or not. Without loss of generality, take two particles, at positions x and y. You then have $$(\partial_x + \partial_y) V(|x-y|)= ((\partial_x + \partial_y)|x-y|) ~~V'(|x-y|) =0,$$ since the left parenthesis vanishes, $$(\partial_x + \partial_y)\sqrt {(x-y)^2}=0.$$ That is, for your expression K really indicating $$\sum_i K_i$$ as well as the PBs, you get $$\partial_t K + t \{ K,H\}= t(\partial_x + \partial_y) V(|x-y|)=0.$$
An infinitesimal transformation generated by K is $$\delta x_i = v_0 \{ x_i , K \}= -v_0 t, \qquad \delta p_i = v_0 \{ p_i , K \}= -mv_0 \\ \leadsto ~~~ \delta H = -v_0 \sum_i (p_i+ t\partial_i V) = -v_0 \sum_i p_i .$$ This reflects the corresponding term in the WP Lie algebra, involving the Hamiltonian and the common Galilean boost.
Note the invariant $$mH-P^2/2$$, so that $$\delta (mH-P^2/2) =0.$$