On Nambu's generalized Hamiltonian mechanics (Q1230673)

\textit{Y. Nambu} [Phys. Rev. D (3) 7, 2405--2412 (1973; Zbl 1027.70503)] has introduced a generalized mechanics in which the dimension of the phase space may be odd. There are indications that certain microsystems (e.g. quarks) can be more properly described in this framework. In this paper, the authors deal with several questions concerning the relation of Nambu mechanics to other mechanics. It is known that Nambu mechanics and Hamiltonian mechanics agree when the dimension of phase space is two. For higher (even) dimensions, however, the authors show that this is not true by proving that the canonical groups associated with the two formalisms are different. Also, for odd dimensions, the authors show that Nambu mechanics is inequivalent to classical Dirac mechanics.