Hamilton-Jacobi theory for Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian systems (Q2057386)

The aim of this paper is to describe a generalization of Hamilton-Jacobi theory to arbitrary dynamical systems. The overall approach is to develop a kind of ensemble theory. The author draws upon Newtonian, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics. The ensemble, one the author calls the Hamilton-Jacobi ensemble, consists of identical systems of non-interacting classical particles that differ in initial conditions. The particles are assumed to move in the same physical space, a configuration space in which all particles in the ensemble move simultaneously but do not interact with each other. The author also assumes a consistency requirement that all particles at the same point in configuration space at the same time have the same velocity. Each particle is assumed to move according to Newton's law \(m \frac{d\mathbf{v}}{dt} = \mathbf{F} (t, \mathbf{r}, \mathbf{v})\) and the kinematic equation \(\frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt} = \mathbf{v}\). The ensemble of non-interacting particles is then defined by an equation of motion \(m(\frac{\partial \mathbf{v}}{\partial t} + (\mathbf{v} \nabla \mathbf{v}) = \mathbf{F} (t, \mathbf{r}, \mathbf{v})\) (where \(\mathbf{r}\) is position and \(\mathbf{v}\) is velocity) and a continuity equation \(\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t} + \) div \(\rho \mathbf{v} = 0\) where \(\rho\) is a density that can be normalized, for example, as the mass or number of particles per unit volume of the configuration space. The author suggests that this Hamilton-Jacobi ensemble can be thought of a as a compressible continuous medium moving under the influence of an external force field \( \mathbf{F} (t, \mathbf{r}, \mathbf{v})\). The author claims that the system ensemble described by these last two equations generalize Hamilton-Jacobi theory and can include arbitrary non-Hamiltonian systems. Several examples are provided in a sequence of appendices.