journals.iop.org home page electronic journals * User guide   * Site map   | Quick Search:Help  
Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General
Athens/Institutional login
IOP login: Password:   
Create account | Alerts | Contact us
Journals Home | Journals List | EJs Extra | This Journal | Search | Authors | Referees | Librarians | User Options | Help |

Nonconservative Lagrangian mechanics: a generalized function approach

David W Dreisigmeyer et al 2003 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 36 8297-8310   doi: 10.1088/0305-4470/36/30/307  Help

   PDF (171 KB) | References | Articles citing this article

David W Dreisigmeyer and Peter M Young
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
E-mail: davidd@engr.colostate.edu and pmy@engr.colostate.edu

Abstract. We reexamine the problem of having nonconservative equations of motion arise from the use of a variational principle. In particular, a formalism is developed that allows the inclusion of fractional derivatives. This is done within the Lagrangian framework by treating the action as a Volterra series. It is then possible to derive two equations of motion, one of these is an advanced equation and the other is retarded.

PACS numbers: 45.20.−d, 02.30.−f

Print publication: Issue 30 (1 August 2003)
Received 29 April 2003, in final form 17 June 2003
Published 16 July 2003

Bookmark and Share Post to CiteUlike | Post to Connotea | Post to Bibsonomy

 

Find related articles





Article options

Authors & Referees

PhysicsWorld, subscribe noweprintweb.org - Your address for E prints
 
Content finder
  Full Search
  Help


  
Setup information is available for Adobe Acrobat.
EndNote, ProCite ® and Reference Manager ® are registered trademarks of ISI Researchsoft.
Copyright © Institute of Physics and IOP Publishing Limited 2010.
Use of this service is subject to compliance with the Terms and Conditions of use. In particular, reselling and systematic downloading of files is prohibited.
Help: Cookies | Data Protection. Privacy policy Disclaimer