The action S of a Hamiltonian system may be regarded as a function of the final coordinates qa,a=1,…,N, and the final time t by setting
S(qa,t)=∫(qia,ti)(qa,t)dt′[pa(t′)q˙a(t′)−H(pa(t′),qa(t′),t′)]
where the initial coordinates qia and time ti are held fixed, and pa(t′),qa(t′) are the solutions to Hamilton's equations with Hamiltonian H, satisfying qa(t)=qa,qa(ti)=qia.
(a) Show that under an infinitesimal change of the final coordinates δqa and time δt, the change in S is
δS=pa(t)δqa−H(pa(t),qa(t),t)δt
(b) Hence derive the Hamilton-Jacobi equation
∂t∂S(qa,t)+H(∂qa∂S(qa,t),qa,t)=0
(c) If we can find a solution to (∗),
S=S(qa,t;Pa),
where Pa are N integration constants, then we can use S as a generating function of type II, where
pa=∂qa∂S,Qa=−∂Pa∂S
Show that the Hamiltonian K in the new coordinates Qa,Pa vanishes.
(d) Write down and solve the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for the one-dimensional simple harmonic oscillator, where H=21(p2+q2). Show the solution takes the form S(q,t;E)=W(q,E)−Et. Using this as a generating function FII(q,t,P) show that the new coordinates Q,P are constants of the motion and give their physical interpretation.