Second-order time-dependent tangent bundles and geometric mechanics (Q1679149)

In this paper the author proposes a geometrization of time-dependent Lagrangian mechanics in a way that the framework of second-order tangent bundles plays an essential role. After describing some concepts of time-dependent connections and time-dependent semisprays on a manifold, the author introduces a vector bundle structure on the second-order time-dependent tangent bundle \({\mathbb{R}}\times T^2M\). It is shown that \(\pi_2:{\mathbb{R}}\times T^2M\rightarrow{\mathbb{R}}\times M\), which arises as a natural extension of the ordinary tangent bundle, has many geometric and mechanic properties. Then, the author studies the concept of regular time-dependent Lagrangian and Lagrangian vector fields and derives their interaction with \({\mathbb{R}}\times T^2M\) in different situations, such as mechanical systems with potential fields, external forces and holonomic constrains. Finally, as application, the author presents the case of the Lie group \(H^s\) volume-preserving diffeomorphisms \({\mathcal{D}}^s_\mu\) on a compact Riemannian manifold.