Constrained systems: A unified geometric approach (Q809436)

A new geometric definition of constrained mechanical systems is given. Some properties of these systems are studied and several related structures (e.g. morphisms) are defined. The approach allows one to consider the presymplectic and Lagrangian formalisms as particular cases. The constrained system is determined in terms of an additional vector bundle F over the configuration space M of the mechanical system as well as of a morphism A: TM\(\to F\) and a section \(\sigma\) of F.