The \({\mathcal C}\)-spectral sequence, Lagrangian formalism, and conservation laws. I: The linear theory (Q799278)

The paper aims at a construction of the Lagrangian formalism on the algebro-topological foundations, and is the full exposition of the author's results announced earlier [Sov. Math., Dokl. 18 (1977), 1200- 1204, translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 236, 284-287 (1977; Zbl 0403.58005); 19, 144-148, translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 238, 1028-1031 (1978; Zbl 0406.58015)]. Part I contains an algebraic theory of adjoint differential operators, Spencer complexes, Green's formula and Euler operator. A general algebraic theory of conservation laws for linear equations not necessarily of the Euler-Lagrange form is developed. As a consequence of this, a method of constructing conservation laws from symmetries for arbitrary linear equations, which is a generalization of the classical Noether theorem, is proposed.