(i) In Hamiltonian mechanics the action is written
S=∫dt(paq˙a−H(qa,pa,t))
Starting from Maupertius' principle δS=0, derive Hamilton's equations
q˙a=∂pa∂H,p˙a=−∂qa∂H.
Show that H is a constant of the motion if ∂H/∂t=0. When is pa a constant of the motion?
(ii) Consider the action S given in Part (i), evaluated on a classical path, as a function of the final coordinates qfa and final time tf, with the initial coordinates and the initial time held fixed. Show that S(qfa,tf) obeys
∂qfa∂S=pfa,∂tf∂S=−H(qfa,pfa,tf)
Now consider a simple harmonic oscillator with H=21(p2+q2). Setting the initial time and the initial coordinate to zero, find the classical solution for p and q with final coordinate q=qf at time t=tf. Hence calculate S(tf,qf), and explicitly verify (2) in this case.