SAIP2025

Classical and Quantum Mechanics of Non-holonomic Constraints

Not scheduled

1h

Solomon Mahlangu House (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)

Oral Presentation Track G - Theoretical and Computational Physics Theoretical and Computational Physics

Speaker

William Horowitz (University of Cape Town)

Description

Modern classical and quantum physics is based on Hamilton's variational action principle. Holonomic constraints, constraints that depend on coordinates alone, can be incorporated into a modified Hamilton's variational action principle through the use of Lagrange multipliers. Non-holonomic constraints, those that depend on coordinates and velocity, such as rolling without slipping, have for 180 years eluded a variational action formulation. We present first results on incorporating non-holonomic constraints into a variational action principle and discuss the implications for classical and quantum mechanics.