(i) Show that Hamilton's equations follow from the variational principle
δ∫t1t2[pq˙−H(q,p,t)]dt=0
under the restrictions δq(t1)=δq(t2)=δp(t1)=δp(t2)=0. Comment on the difference from the variational principle for Lagrange's equations.
(ii) Suppose we transform from p and q to p′=p′(q,p,t) and q′=q′(q,p,t), with
p′q˙′−H′=pq˙−H+dtdF(q,p,q′,p′,t)
where H′ is the new Hamiltonian. Show that p′ and q′ obey Hamilton's equations with Hamiltonian H′.
Show that the time independent generating function F=F1(q,q′)=q′/q takes the Hamiltonian
H=2q21+21p2q4
to harmonic oscillator form. Show that q′ and p′ obey the Poisson bracket relation
{q′,p′}=1