The second Noether theorem in the formalism of jet-bundles: Symmetries and degeneration (Q1907141)

The setup is essentially that of \textit{H. Goldschmidt} and \textit{S. Sternberg} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 23, No. 1, 203-267 (1973; Zbl 0252.49016)]. Thus the fields considered are sections of a general fiber bundle \(\pi : E \to M\) over a space-time manifold \(M\) and a first order Lagrangian system is defined by a Lagrangian \(L : J^1 E \to \mathbb{R}\) and a volume form \(\Omega\) on \(M\). An infinitesimal symmetry of this system is a complete projectable vector field on \(E\) which leaves invariant the action integral of the system. If \(p : A \to M\) is a vector bundle and \(\mathcal P\) a continuous (with respect to the Fréchet topologies) linear operator assigning to sections of \(p : A \to M\) vector fields on \(E\) -- such that for any section \(\sigma : M \to A\) the vector field \({\mathcal P}\sigma\) is projectable and vanishes on \(\pi^{-1} (U)\) whenever \(\sigma\) vanishes on \(U\) -- then it can be shown that \(\mathcal P\) is a differential operator of some finite order \(k > 0\). \(\mathcal P\) is called an infinitesimal local symmetry of the system if \({\mathcal P}\sigma\) is an infinitesimal symmetry of the system for any section \(\sigma\) with compact support. One associates with \(\mathcal P\) and \((L, \Omega)\) a nonlinear differential operator \(\mathcal D\) of order \(k + 2\) assigning to sections \(s : M \to E\) sections \({\mathcal D} s\) of the vector bundle \(A^* \otimes \Lambda^m T^* M\). The Second Noether Theorem is now established in the form: if \(\mathcal P\) is an infinitesimal local symmetry of the system then \(\mathcal D\) vanishes identically. This is applied to the situation where the problem of the degeneration of the Lagrangian system is examined in two special situations: instantaneous (i.e. space time split) and in that of a covariant Hamiltonian formulation. It is shown that in the instantaneous approach the presence of infinitesimal local symmetries leads to degeneration of the theory. Vertical local symmetries are shown to imply degeneration also in the covariant formalism. Finally, the case of higher order Lagrangians is briefly considered and some of the results extended.