CLASSICAL MECHANICS Homework 12

1. (a) Consider a canonical transformation from the variables q, p to the variables Q, P given by the generating function F2 (q, P ). Find the equations for p, Q. (b) Consider a canonical transformation from the variables q, p to the variables Q, P given by the generating function F3 (p, Q). Find the equations for q , P . (c) Consider a canonical transformation from the variables q, p to the variables Q, P given by the generating function F4 (p, P ). Find the equations for q , Q. 2. Consider a system of one degree of freedom for simplicity. Also, a canonical transformation from the variables q, p to the variables Q, P . Show that that the Poisson bracket of any two dynamical variables f (q, p, t), g(q, p, t) remains unchanged under the canonical transformation, that is, show [f, g]q,p = [f, g]Q,P . 3. Prove the identities: [f, g] = [g, f ] , [f, const] = 0 , [f1 + f2 , g] = [f1 , g] + [f2 , g] , [f1 f2 , g] = f1 [f2 , g] + [f1 , g] f2 , f g [f, g] = , g + f, . t t t Also prove the Jacobi identity [f, [g, h]] + [h, [f, g]] + [g, [h, f ]] = 0 . Memorize them. You will meet with them again in Quantum Mechanics. 4. In one of the lectures, it was explained how to solve the simple harmonic oscillator using the transformation F1 (q, Q) = m 2 q cot(2Q) . 2

Using Legendre transformations, nd F2 (q, P ), F3 (p, Q), and F4 (p, P ).

5. In class we described the action-angle variables for the simple harmonic oscillator. We will show that the transformation of the last problem was found from them. Using your notes from class, integrate the equation J = to write F1 (q, ) = f (q, ) + g(q ) . After the integration you should know the function f (q, ). Now, use the equation p = to show that f (q ) = const. 6. Use the Wilson-Sommerfeld quantization to nd (a) the allowed momenta pn of a free particle that bounces back and forth between two walls; (b) the allowed angular momenta Ln of a free particle that rotates on a circle; (c) the allowed heights hn of a ball that bounces up and down on a oor. F1 q F1

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