A system is described by the Hamiltonian H(q,p). Define the Poisson bracket {f,g} of two functions f(q,p,t),g(q,p,t), and show from Hamilton's equations that
dtdf={f,H}+∂t∂f
Consider the Hamiltonian
H=21(p2+ω2q2)
and define
a=(p−iωq)/(2ω)1/2,a∗=(p+iωq)/(2ω)1/2,
where i=−1. Evaluate {a,a} and {a,a∗}, and show that {a,H}=−iωa and {a∗,H}=iωa∗. Show further that, when f(q,p,t) is regarded as a function of the independent complex variables a,a∗ and of t, one has
dtdf=iω(a∗∂a∗∂f−a∂a∂f)+∂t∂f
Deduce that both loga∗−iωt and loga+iωt are constant during the motion.