BSc Physics 2014-2015 Classical Mechanic PHYEL3005(5) Dr S.

Oree

POISSON BRACKETS

The Poisson Bracket is an operator operating on two dynamical variables that are
functions of generalized coordinates, generalized momenta and time t (i.e. f (qi , pi , t ) and
g (qi , pi , t ) ). It is symbolically represented by  f , g. The Poisson Bracket, first
introduced by the Siméon Denis Poisson, is defined as:

 f , g   f g f g
n n

i 1 qi pi i 1 pi qi

Properties

(i) f , f   0
(ii) Anti-commutativity:  f , g  g, f 
(iii) If a is a scalar constant:  f , a  0
(iv) Distributivity of addition :  f 1  f 2 , g   f 1 , g   f 2 , g
g
(v) qi , g 
pi

We deduce that: qi , H   H  p i

pi

(vi) pi , g   g
qi

We deduce that: pi , H    H  q i

pi

(vii) q , p   
i j ij

(viii) Distributivity of multiplication:  f , gh   f , gh  g f , h

(ix) Jacobi’s identity:  f , g, h g, h, f  h,  f , g  0
(x) If a is a scalar constant: af , g  a f , g

(xi) Partial derivative:  f , g   f , g    f , g 
t  t   t 
BSc Physics 2014-2015 Classical Mechanic PHYEL3005(5) Dr S. Oree

Poisson’s theorem

Consider a system with Hamiltonian H for which the dynamical variable u is defined.

The total time derivative of u is:

du u u u
  q i  p i
dt t qi pi

H H
Replacing the canonical equations q i  and p i   in the above, we find:
pi qi

du u  u H u H 
   
dt t  qi pi pi qi 

du u
which can be written:   u, H 
dt t

Consequences:
u
If u is a constant of motion:  H , u
t
If u is a constant of motion that does not depend explicitly on time: H , u  0

dH H H
If u  H (qi , pi , t ) , Poisson’s theorem gives:   H , H  
dt t t

Poisson-Jacobi Theorem

If u and v are two dynamical variables that are constants of motion of a given holonomic
dynamical system, their Poisson Bracket is also a constant of motion.

Proof:
We use the Poisson theorem to evaluate the time derivative:

d u, v u, v
  u, v, H 
dt t

d u, v  u   v 
  , v   u,   u, v, H 
dt  t   t 

Jacobi’s identity provides: u, v, H   H , u, v  v, H , u u, v, H 
u, v, H   u, H , v u, v, H 
BSc Physics 2014-2015 Classical Mechanic PHYEL3005(5) Dr S. Oree

d u, v  u   v 
  , v  u,   u, H , v  u, v, H 
dt  t   t 

d u, v  u   v 
   u, H , v  u,  v, H 
dt  t   t 

d u, v  du   dv 
  , v   u,   0
dt  dt   dt 

So, u, v is also a constant of motion.

Poisson Brackets in symplectic notation

In symplectic notation the Poisson Brackets of dynamical variables f and g can be

written:
t
 f   g 
 f , g     J   
   

t
 f   f 
where   is a (1 x 2n) matrix, the transpose of the matrix   
    

Poisson Brackets are invariant under canonical transformations.

Proof:

Transfer relations for canonical equations from  space to  space is:

 g   g 
    M   
t

   

 f   f 
    M   
t

   

t t
 f   f 
       M since
t
AB  tB tA
   

t t

 f , gq, p   f  J  g    f
 
 t  g 
 M J M   
         
BSc Physics 2014-2015 Classical Mechanic PHYEL3005(5) Dr S. Oree

Since M J tM  J

t
 f   g 
 f , gq, p     J      f , gQ , P
   

Poisson Brackets are invariant under any canonical transformation.