I-vIc

differentiating
on
because v=v+v+v
2=2+2,2v,or=v.
2V dt
moC
mm vdv/dt
Fv (1-v23/2 dt

(me)=c2dn
d dt

dnm
Hence dt
obtain
this vlaue of d/dt from eq. (ii) in eq. (i), we
Substituting

F=mdv F)
HAMILTONIAN OF A
PARTICLE IN RELATIVISTIC
13.11. THE LAGRANGIAN AND
MECHANICS
momentum components (in cartesian coordinate system)
In the non-relativistic mechanics, the canonical
of a particle are given by

40)
POFPy=P
where L is the Lagrangian.
SelairisticMechanics
453

Telativistic mechanics We assume a similar definition for

In r
the momentum
components. given by
P
41)

P
v1-p 42)

.43)

ho and u =i +i* +* u is the speed of the particle in the Lorentz

(inertial) frame under
amsideration.
Integrating (A1), we get

L=-me1-f-v
where l' is the constant of integration and may be taken as the potential energy of the particle as a function
4)

ordinates IV= V' (x. y, ) only. The justification of this assumption and correctness of the form of the
LsCTangian L in (40) can be shown, when we use the definition (44) of the Lagrangian in the Lagrange's
aquations and obtain the relativistic equation of motion of the
correct
particle (F dp,ldr).
=

The Lagrange's equation for * coordinate is

(45)

From (40)
Ox ôx

moX
and
myc1- -) -moc - Px
dr 1-B
Thus from (41)

P4 0 or P=_d = F
dt dt dx
t is to be noted that in relativistic mechanics the Lagrangian is no longer equal to (T- ).
We may extend the definition (40) of the Lagrangian to a system of many particles and change from
artesian coordinates to any generalized set of coordinates i. The canonical momenta P will be defined
Similar to nonrelativistic case asS
oL
46)
P
S0 that the relation between the cyclic coordinates and conservation of the corresponding momenta remains
the same.
The definition of the Hamiltonian is given similar to the non-relativistic case as

L=m d* with u= =i+j+#.

454 Classical Mechanics

H p, - L
IfL does not coniain the time explicitly. the Hamiltonian H represemts the constant of motion. Fora
A47)
Sngie particle moving under conservative force. the Hamiltonian is given byY

H Paa-L
C=113

P P - P . i - m y I - f -v

my
I-
me1-+v
1-F

1-
= meV= E+V= T+Ep +V=Total energy 43)
Taus in case ofa single particle moving in a conservative force field, the Hamiltonian H still represents
the toal energy. However, the identification of H wih energy for a Lagrangian of the form (40) cannot
proceed along the same lines ofnonrelativistic case because neither L is equal to T-V, nor 2P4: is equal to
27
One may express the single particle Hamiltonian in the form given below:
H mc+V= E -V
Bui E =pcme, hence
H pe+mié +v (49)

13.12. RELATIVISTIC LAGRANGIAN AND HAMILTONIAN OFA CHARGED PARTICLE

IN AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD-VELOCITY DEPENDENT POTENTIALS
Let
us consider charged pariclemoving with
a
velocity u in an electromagnetic field. The force
on a paricle with charge q in electric field E and magnetic induction B is given by
acting
F=gE+quxB) -(50)
The x- component of the force can be expressed [Chapter 2, eq. (65)] as

-(51)

where U=q(o-u.A) is the velocity dependent potential; A and are vector and scalar potentals
OA
respectively (B- curl A, E = - - +grad 6).

Therefore, the Lagrangian for a charged particle in an electromagnetic field in the relativistic case is
given by

L= -m-P-U or
L=-meyi-u'le* -q6+g(u. A) -(52)
In such a case of the velocity dependent potential, the canonical momenta are