published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Master / Master of Science

Let M denote a 2n-dimensional globally defined orientable manifold from which is constructed the product space N = M x R. It is assumed that N is endowed with a set of 2n independent smooth 1-forms {π(h),πʰ:h = 1,..,n}. Certain conditions are imposed on {π(h),πʰ} which imply the existence of local coordinates {qʰ,p(h)} on M and a function H(qʰ,p(h),t) on N, where t is the single coordinate on R, such that dπ = π(h) ∧ πʰ, where π has the structure of a Cartan form on N. The assumption that the function h = p(h)∂H/∂p(h)-H is non-zero on a region D ⊂ N, implies that π has maximal class on D. This construction gives rise to a local adapted contact structure on N and a local symplectic structure on M. A vector field X on N is said to be a contact field if there exists a smooth function σ : N → R such that ₤ₓπ = σπ. A vector field Z on N is called a canonical vector field if it admits the representation Z = ∂/∂t + (H, ) where (,) denotes the Poisson bracket on M. For a given function σ, a prescription is given for the construction of the space c(σ)(N) of contact fields in terms of solutions F of the p.d.e. Z<F> = σh. The vector space (UNFORMATTED EQUATION FOLLOWS) c(N) = ∪ (σ∊C)(∞)c(σ)(N) (END UNFORMATTED EQUATION) is shown to have the structure of a Lie sub-algebra of the Lie algebra of vector fields on N. It is shown that the associated subspace A(π) = {X:X˩π = 0} is such that c(σ)(N) ∩ A(π) = {0}. This implies that there is an X in c(σ)(N) such that X˩π ≠ 0. Thus, if the function H that appears in the Cartan form π is such that H = X˩π for any X ∊ c(σ)(N) it is possible to deduce that ∂H/∂t ≠ 0, which shows that such vector fields may be of relevance to the theory of non-conservative systems. A different set of 2n 1-forms {π(h),πʰ} is introduced on N that are subject to analogous conditions which ensure the existence of local coordinates (qʰ,p(h)) on M and a function K(qʰ,p(h),t) that gives rise to a new Cartan form π on N such that dπ= π(h) ∧ πʰ. By definition, the fundamental invariant of a parameter-dependent canonical transformation on N is dπ = dπ. In this new setting a contact field X satisfies the ₤ₓπ = σπ for some function σ: N to R. The relationship between the contact vector fields X and X is investigated in depth.

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