Representation of the variational sequence by differential forms (Q2572458)

This paper solves the representation problem for finite order variational sequence on fibered manifolds. For infinite jets the machinery was developed under the name C-spectral sequence, variational bicomplex, etc. To consider finite jets is important for many questions of calculus of variations and physical field theories. The problem is to represent cohomological classes of the variational sequence by differential forms. For finite order jets one looses certain geometric constructions from infinite jets and one needs to build his construction carefully depending on the jet-orders. In this paper the problem is solved via a generalized integration by parts formula. Examples demonstrate a close relationship of the obtained coordinate representation of the variational sequence and finite order currents, Euler-Lagrange forms, dynamical forms, Helmholtz-Sonin maps.