INFINITE DIMENSIONAL For any H C (P ) we define the Hamiltonian

vector field XH by
HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS
XH (F ) = {F, H}, F C (P ) .
Rudolf Schmid, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
It follows from (ii) that indeed XH defines a deriva-
Introduction tion on C (P ), hence a vector field on P . Hamil-
tons equations of motion for a function F

Infinite dimensional Hamiltonian systems arise in C (P ) with Hamiltonian H (energy function) are
many areas in pure and applied mathematics and in then defined by the flow (integral curves) of the vec-
mathematical physics. These are partial differen- tor field XH i.e.
tial equations which can be written as evolution d
equations (dynamical systems) in the form F = XH (F ) = {F, H} , where = (1)
dt
F = {F, H} We then call F a Hamiltonian system on P with
where H is the Hamiltonian (energy) and {. , .} is energy (Hamiltonian function) H.
a Poisson bracket on an infinite dimensional phase
space, called Poisson manifold. Unlike finite di- Examples of Poisson Manifolds
mensional Hamiltonian systems, which are ordinary and Hamiltons Equations
differential evolution equations on finite dimensional
phase spaces, for which general existence and Finite dimensional classical mechanics
uniqueness theorems for solutions exist, this is not
the case for PDEs. There are no general existence For finite dimensional classical mechanics we take
and uniqueness theorems for solutions of infinite P = R2n with coordinates (q 1 , . . . , q n , p1 , . . . , pn )
dimensional Hamiltonian systems. These have to be with the standard Poisson bracket for any two func-
established case by case. In this Encyclopedia we tions F (q i , pi ) , H(q i , pi ) given by
can only give the broad mathematical frame work of n
infinite dimensional Hamiltonian systems. We shall
X F H H F
{F, H} = i
. (2)
give precise definitions and illustrate this concept on i=1
p i q pi q i
physical examples.
Then the classical Hamiltons equations are
Hamiltons Equations H H
q i = {q i , H} = , pi = {pi , H} = . (3)
on Poisson Manifolds pi q i

A Poisson manifold is a manifold P (in general infi-
nite dimensional) equipped with a bilinear operation
{. , .} , called Poisson bracket, on the space C (P )
of smooth functions on P such that :
(i) (C (P ), {. , .}) is a Lie algebra
i.e. {. , .} : C (P ) C (P ) C (P ) is bilin-
ear, skew symmetric and satisfies the Jacobi identity
{{F, G}, H} + {{H, F }, G} + {{G, H}, F } = 0 for all
F, G, H C (P );
(ii){. , .} satisfies the Leibniz rule
i.e. {. , .} is a derivation in each factor: {F G, H} =
F {G, H} + G {F, H} , for all F, G, H C (P ).
The notion of Poisson manifolds was rediscovered
many times under different names, starting with Lie,
Dirac, Pauli and others. The name Poisson mani-
fold was coined by Lichnerowicz.
i = 1, . . . , n. This finite dimensional Hamiltonian
system is a system of ordinary differential equa-
tions for which there are well known existence and
uniqueness theorems, i.e. it has locally unique
smooth solutions, depending smoothly on the initial
conditions.
Example: Harmonic oscillator
As a concrete example we consider the harmonic os-
cillator: Here P = R2 and the Hamiltonian (energy)
is H(q, p) = 12 (q 2 + p2 ). Then Hamiltons equations
are
q = p , p = q . (4)
Infinite dimensional classical
field theory
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 2

Let V be a Banach space and V its dual space with P = C (R3 ) Den(R3 ).
respect to a pairing h. , .i : V V R (i.e. h. , .i is
a symmetric, bilinear, nondegenerate function). On Cotangent Bundles
P = V V we have the canonical Poisson bracket
for F, H C (P ), V, V , given by The finite dimensional examples of Poissson brackets
(2) and Hamiltons equations (3) and the infinite
F H H F
{F, H} = h , ih , i, (5) dimensional examples (5) and (6) are the local
versions of the general case where P = T Q is the
cotangent bundle (phase space) of a manifold Q
where the functional derivatives F F
V , V (configuration space). If Q in an n-dimensional
are the duals under the pairing h. , .i of the partial manifold then T Q is a 2n-Poisson manifold locally
gradients D1 F () V , D2 F () V ' V . The isomorphic to R2n whose Poisson bracket is locally
corresponding Hamiltons equations are given by (2) and Hamiltons equations are locally
H H given by (3). If Q is an infinite dimensional Banach
= {, H} = , = {, H} = . (6) manifold then T Q is a Poisson manifold locally iso-

morphic to V V whose Poisson bracket is given by
n
As a special case in finite dimensions, if V ' R (5) and Hamiltons equations are locally given by (6).
so V ' Rn and P = V V ' R2n , and the
pairing is the standard inner product in Rn , then Symplectic Manifolds
the Poisson bracket (5) and Hamiltons equations
(6) are identical with (2) and (3) respectively. All the examples above are special cases of symplec-
tic manifolds (P, ). That means P is equipped with
Example: Wave equations a symplectic structure which is a closed (d = 0) ,
As a concrete example we consider the wave equa- (weakely) nondegenerate 2-form on the manifold P .
tions. Let V = C (R3 ) and V = Den(R 3
) (den- Then for any H C (P ) the corresponding Hamil-
2
R
sities) and the L pairing h, i = (x)(x)dx. tonian vector field XH is defined by dH = (XH , . )
We take the Hamiltonian to be H(, ) = ( 21 2 + and the canonical Poisson bracket is given by
R
1 2
2 || + F ())
rmdx, where F is some function on V . Then Hamil- {F, H} = (XF , XH ) , F, H C (P ). (9)
tons equations (6) become
For example, on R2n thePcanonical symplectic struc-
n
d ture is given by = i=1 dpi dqi = d , where
= , = 2 F 0 (), where 0 = (7) = Pn p dqi . The same formula for holds
d i=1 i
locally in T Q for any finite dimensional Q (Dar-
which imply the wave equation bouxs Lemma). For the infinite dimensional ex-
ample P = V V the symplectic form is given
2
= 2 F 0 (). (8) by ((1 , 1 ), (2 , 2 )) = h1 , 2 i h2 , 1 i. Again
t2 these two formulas for are identical if V = Rn .
Different choices of F give different wave equations, Remarks:
e.g. for F = 0 we get the linear wave equation A) If P is a finite dimensional symplectic manifold
then P is even dimensional.
2 2 B) If the Poisson bracket {. , .} is nondegenerate then
=
t2 {. , .} comes form a symplectic form , i.e. {. , .} is
given by (9).
for F = 12 m we get the Klein Gordon equation

2 The Lie-Poisson Bracket

2 = m
t2
Not all Poisson brackets are of the from given in the
So these wave equations and the Klein Gordon equa- above examples (2), (5) and (9), i.e. not all Poisson
tion are infinite dimensional Hamiltonian systems on manifolds are symplectic manifolds. An important
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 3

class of Poisson bracket is the so called Lie Poisson
bracket. It is defined on the dual of any Lie algebra.
Let G be a Lie group with Lie algebra g = Te G ' {left
invariant vector fields on G} and let [. , .] denote the
Lie bracket (commutator) on g. Let g be the dual of
a g with respect to a pairing h. , .i : g g R. Then
for any F, H C (g ) and g the Lie Poisson
bracket is defined by
F H
{F, H}() = h, [ , ]i , (10)
where F H mation is a smooth map that preserves the Piosson
, g are the duals of the gradients
DF (), DH() g ' g under the pairing h. , .i .
Note that the Lie-Poisson bracket is degenerate in
general, e.g. for G = SO(3) the vector space g is
3 dimensional, so the Poisson bracket (10) cannot
come from a symplectic structure. This Lie Poisson
bracket can also be obtained in a different way
by taking the cannonical Poisson bracket on T G
(locally given by (2) and (5) and then restrict it to
the fiber at the identity Te G = g . In this sense
the Lie Poisson bracket (10) is induced from the
canonical Poisson bracket on T G . It is induced by
the symmetry of left multiplication as we will discuss
in the next section.
Example: Rigid Body
A concrete example of the Lie Poisson bracket is given
by the rigid body. Here G = SO(3) is the configu-
ration space of a free rigid body . Identifying the
Lie algebra (so(3), [. , .]) with (R3 , ), where is the
vector product on R3 and g = so(3) ' R3 the Lie
Poisson bracket translates into
{F, H}(m) = m (F H). (11)
For any F C (so(3) ), we have dF
dt (m) = F m =
{F, H}(m) = m (F H) = F (m H), Example: Rigid Body
hence m = m H. With the Hamiltonian H = The rigid body discussed above can be viewd as an
1 m1
2
m22 m23
2 ( I12 + I22 + I32 ) we get Hamiltons equation as
I2 I3
m1 = m2 m3 m2 = II33I
I
1
m3 m 1
I2 I3 1
The examples we have discussed so far are all canon-
ical examples of Poisson brackets, defined either on
a symplectic manifold (P, ) or T Q, or on the dual
of a Lie algebra g . Different , non-canonical Pois-
son brackets can arise from symmetries. Assume a
Lie group G is acting in a Hamiltonian way on the
Poisson manifold (P, {. .}). That means that we have
a smooth map : G P P : (g, p) = g p
such that the induced maps g = (g, .) : P P
are canonical transformations, for each g G.
In terms of Poisson manifolds, a canonical transfor-
bracket. So the action of G on P is a Hamilto-
nian action if g {F, H} = {g F, g H} , for all
F, H C (P ), g G. For any g the canon-
ical transformations exp(t) generate a a Hamilto-
nian vector field F on P and a momentum map
J : P g given by J(x)() = F (x), which is Ad
equivariant.
If a Hamiltonian system XH is invariant under a
Lie group action, i.e. H(g (x)) = H(x), then we
obtain a reduced Hamiltonian system on a reduced
phace space (reduced Poisson manifold). We recall
the Marsden-Weinstein reduction theorem :
Reduction Theorem: For a Hamiltonian action
of a Lie group G on a Poisson manifold (P, {. , .}),
there is an equivariant momentum map J : P g
and for every regular g the reduced pase
space P J 1 ()/G carries an induced Poisson
structure {. , .} , (G the isotropy group). Any
G-invariant Hamiltonian H on P defines a Hamil-
tonian H on the reduced phase space P and the
integral curves of the vector field XH project onto
integral curves of the induced vector field XH on
the reduced space P .
example of this reduction theorem. If P = T G
and G is acting on T G by the cotangent lift of
the left translation lg : G G , lg (h) = gh , then
the momentum map J : T G g is given by

I1 I2 J(g ) = Te Rg (g ) and the reduced phase space

m3 = m1 m2 (T G) = J 1 ()/G is isomorphic to the coadjoint
I1 I2
orbit O through g . Each coadjoint orbit O
These are Eulers equations for the free rigid body. carries a natural symplectic structure and in
this case, the reduced Lie-Poisson bracket {. , .} on
Reduction by Symmetries the coadjoint orbit O is induced by the symplectic
form on O as in (9). Furthermore T G/G ' g
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 4

and the induced Poisson bracket {. , .} on O is Banach and Hilbert spaces, but not to Frechet spaces.
identical with the Lie Poisson bracket restricted to
the coadjoint orbit O g . For the rigid body we Finite versus Infinite Dimensional Lie
apply this construction to G = SO(3). Groups
We now discuss some infinite dimensional exam- The non local compactness of infinite dimensional Lie
ples of reduced Hamiltonian systems. groups causes some deficiencies of the Lie theory in
infinite dimensions. We summarize some classical re-
Infinite Dimensional Lie Groups sults in finite dimensions which are NOT true in
general in infinite dimensions:
A general theory of infinite dimensional Lie groups 1) The exponential map exp : g G is defined
is hardly developed. Even Bourbaki only developes as follows: To each g we assign the correspond-
a theory of infinite dimensional manifolds, but all of ing left invariant vector field X defined by (14). We
the important theorems about Lie groups are stated take the flow (t) of X and define exp() = (1) .
for finite dimensional ones. The exponential map is a local diffeomorphism from
An infinite dimensional Lie group G is a group and a neighberhood of zero in g onto a neighberhood of
an infinite dimensional manifold with smooth group the identity in G, hence exp defines canonical coor-
operations dinates on the Lie group G.
This is not true in infinite dimensions.
m : G G G ; m(g, h) = g h , C (12) 2) If f1 , f2 : G1 G2 are smooth Lie group homo-
i : G G ; i(g) = g 1 , C . (13) morphisms (i.e. fi (g h) = fi (g) fi (h), i = 1, 2 )
with Te f1 = Te f2 . Then locally f1 = f2 .
Such a Lie group G is locally diffeomorphic to an This is not true in infinite dimensions.
infinite dimensional vector space. This can either be 3) If H is a closed subgroup of G then H is a Lie
a Banach space whose topology is given by a norm subgroup of G.
k . k, a Hilbert space whose topology is given by an This is not true in infinite dimensions.
inner product h. , .i or a Frechet space whose topology 4) For any finite dimensional Lie algebra g there ex-
is given by a metric but not by a norm. Depending ists a connected Lie group G whose Lie albegra is g;
on the choice of the topology on G we talk about i.e. such that g ' Te G.
Banach-, Hilbert- or Frechet Lie groups respectively. This is not true in infinite dimensions.
The Lie aglebra g of G is defined as g= { left in- Some classical finite dimensional exam-
variant vector fields on G } ' Te G, where the isomor- ples of Lie groups are the matrix groups
phisme is given (as in finite dimensions) by GL(n), SL(n), O(n), SO(n), U (n), SU (n), Sp(n)
with smooth group operations given by matrix
Te G 7 X (g) = Te Lg (), (14)
multiplication and matrix inversion.
and the Lie bracket on g is induced by the Lie
bracket of left invariant vector fields [, ] = Examples of Infinite Dimen-
[X , X ](e) , , g . sional Lie Groups
These definitions in infinite dimensions are iden-
tical with the definitions in finite dimensions. The Abelian Gauge Group G = (C (M ), +)
big difference although is that infinite dimensional
manifolds , hence Lie groups , are not locally com- Let M be a finite dimensional manifold and let
pact. For Frechet Lie groups we have the additional G = C (M ). With group operation being addition,
nontrivial difficulty of the question how to define dif- i.e. m(f, g) = f + g, i(f ) = f, e = 0 . G is
ferentiability of functions defined on a Frechet space. an abelian C Frechet Lie group with Lie algebra
Hence the very definition of a Frechet manifold is not g = Te C (M ) ' C (M ), with trivial bracket
canonical. This problem does not arise for Banach [, ] = 0, and exp = id. If we complete these spaces
and Hilbert Lie groups; the differential calculus in the C k -norm, k < then G k is a Banach Lie
extends in a straightforward manner from Rn to group, and if we complete in the H s -Sobolev norm
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 5

with s > 12 dimM then G s is a Hilbert Lie group. and a straightforward computation shows that

Application of G = (C (M ), +) to Maxwells

E = curl B , B = curl E
F = {F, H }
Equations div B = 0 , div E =
Let E, B be the electric and magnetic fields on R3 , (21)
then Maxwells equations for a charge density are: So Maxwells equations (15), (16) are an infinite
dimensional Hamiltonian system on this reduced
E = curl B , B = curl E (15)
phase space with respect to the reduced Poisson
div B = 0 , div E = . (16) bracket.
Let A be the magnetic potential such that B =
curl A. As configuration space we take V = Abelian Gauge Group G = (C (M, R
V ec(R3 ), vector fields (potentials) on R3 , so A V , {0}), )
and as phase space we have P = T V ' V V 3
2 Let M be a finite dimensional manifold and let
R(A, E), with the standard L pairing < A, E >=
A(x)E(x)dx, and canonical Poisson bracket given G = C (M, R {0}), with group operation being
by (5) , which becomes multiplication , i.e. m(f, g) = f g, i(f ) = f 1 , e =
Z 1. For k < , C k (M, R {0}) is open in C (M, R)
F H H F
{F, H}(A, E) = ( and if M is compact then C k (M, R{0}) is a Banach
)dx . (17)
A E A E Lie group. If s > 21 dim M then H s (M, R {0})
As Hamiltonian we take R the total electro-magnetic is closed under multiplication and if M is compact
energy H(A, E) = 12 (|curl A|2 + |E|2 )dx. Then then H s (M, R {0}) is a Hilbert Lie group.
Hamiltons equations in the canonical variables A
and E are A = H E = E B = curl E and Non-abelian Gauge Groups
E = A = curl curl A = curl B. So the first G = (C k (M, G), )
H

two equations of Maxwells equations (15) are Hamil-

tons equations, the third one we get automatically We generaliz the abelian example by replacing R{0}
from the potential div B = div curl A = 0 and the with any finite dimensional (non-abelian) Lie group
4th equation divE = we obtain through the fol- G. Let G = C k (M, G) with pointwise group opera-
lowing symmetry (gauge invariance): The Lie group tions m(f, g)(x) = f (x) g(x) , x M and i(f )(x) =
G = (C (R3 ), +) acts on V by A = A + , (f (x))1 where and (.)1 are the operations in
G , A V . The lifted action to V V becomes G. If k < then C k (M, G) is a Banach Lie group.
(A, E) = (A + , E), and has the momentum Let g denote the Lie algebra of G, then the Lie alge-
map J : V V g ' {charge densities} bra of G = C k (M, G) is g = C k (M, g), with pointwise
J(A, E) = div E . (18) Lie bracket [, ](x) = [(x), (x)] , x M , the latter
bracket being the Lie bracket in g. The exponential
With g = C (R3 ) and g = Den(R3 ) we identify map exp : g G defines the exponential map EXP :
elements of g with charge densities. The Hamilto- g = C k (M, g) G = C k (M, G), EXP () = exp ,
nian H is G invariant, i.e. H( (A, E)) = H(A + which is a local diffeomorphism. The same holds for
, E) = H(A, E). Then the reduced pase space for H s (M, G if s > 21 dim M .
g is (V V ) = J 1 ()/G = {(E, B)|div E = Applications of these infinite dimensional Lie
, div B = 0} and the reduced Hamiltonian is groups are in gauge theories and quantum field
1
Z theory, where they appear as groups of gauge
H (E, B) = (|E|2 + |B|2 )dx . (19) transformations.
2
The reduced Poisson bracket becomes for any func- Loop Groups G = C k (S 1 , G)
tions F, H on (V V ) As a special case of example 5.3 we take M = S 1 ,
the circle. Then G = C k (S 1 , G) = Lk (G) is called
Z
F H H F
{F, H} (E, B) = ( curl curl )dx ,
E B E B a loop group and g = C k (S 1 , g) = lk (g) its loop
(20) algebra. They find applications in the theory of
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 6

affine Lie algebras, Kac-Moody Lie algebras (central becomes a C Hilbert manifold if s > 21 dim M and
extensions), completely integrable systems, soliton the group multiplication
equations (Toda, KdV, KP), quantum field theory.
Central extensions of Loop algebras are examples m : Dif f s+k (M ) Dif f s (M ) Dif f s (M ) (24)
of infinite dimensional Lie algebras which need not
have a corresponding Lie group. is C k differentiable , hence for k = 0, m is only con-
tinuous on Dif f s (M ). The inversion
Diffeomorphism Groups
i : Dif f s+k (M ) Dif f s (M ) (25)
Among the most important classical infinite dimen-
is C k differentiable, hence for k = 0, i is only continu-
sional Lie groups are the diffeomorphism groups of
ous on Dif f s (M ). The same differentiability proper-
manifolds. Their differential structure is not the one
ties of m and i hold in the C k topology. This situation
of a Banch Lie group as defined above. Nevertheless
leads to the notion of nested Lie groups.
they have important applications.
The Lie algebra of Dif f (M ) is given by g =
Let M be a compact manifold (the noncompact
Te Dif f (M ) ' V ec (M ) the space of smooth vec-
case is technically much more complicated but similar
tor fields on M . Note that the space V ec(M ) of all
results are true) and let G = Dif f (M ) be the group
vector fields is a Lie algebra only for C vector fields,
of all smooth diffeomorphism on M , with group oper-
but not for C k or H s vector fields if k < , s < ,
ation being composition, i.e. m(f, g) = f g, i(f ) =
becoause one looses derivatives by taking brackets.
f 1 , e = idM . For C diffeomorphisms Dif f (M )
The exponential map on the diffeomorphism
is a Frechet manifold and there are nontrivial prob-
group is given as follows: For any vector field
lems with the notion of smooth maps between Frechet
X V ec (M ) take its flow t Dif f (M ), then
spaces. There is no canonical extension of the differ-
define EXP : V ec (M ) Dif f (M ) : X 7 1 ,
ential calculus from Banach spaces (same as for Rn )
the flow at time t = 1. The exponential map EXP
to Frechet spaces. One possibility is to generalize the
is NOT a local diffeomorphism, it is not even locally
notion of differentability, For example, if we use the so
surjective.
called C differentiability , then G = Dif f (M ) be-
comes a C Lie group with C differentiable group
Applications of Dif f (M )
operations. These notion of differentiability are dif-
ficult to apply to concrete examples. Another pos-
General Relativity
sibility is to complete Dif f (M ) in the Banach C k
In general relativity the diffeomorphism group plays
- norm, 0 k < , or in the Sobolev H s -norm,
the role of a symmetry group of coordinate transfor-
s > 12 dim M . Then Dif f k (M ) and Dif f s (M )
mations. Let (M, g) be a Lorentz 4 -manifold. Then
become Banach and Hilbert manifolds respectively.
the vacuum Einsteins field equations are
Then we consider the inverse limits of these Banach
- and Hilbert Lie groups respectively: Ric(g) = 0
Dif f (M ) = lim Dif f k (M ), (22) . These are invariant under coordinate transforma-

tions i.e. under the action of Dif f (M ) . Moreover
becomes a so called ILB (Inverse Limit of Banach) , Einsteins field equations are a Hamiltonian sys-
Lie group, or with the Sobolev topologies tem on the space P = {metrics on M }/Dif f (M ) .

Dif f (M ) = lim Dif f s (M )

(23) Subgroups of Dif f (M )
becomes a so called ILH (Inverse Limit of Hilbert) Several subgroups of Dif f (M ) have important ap-
Lie group . Nevertheless, the group operations are plications:
not smooth, but have the following differentiability Group of Volume Preserving Diffeo-
properties. If we equip the diffeomorphism group morphisms
with the Sobolev H s -topology, then Dif f s (M ),
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 7

Let be a volume on M and G = Dif f (M ) = (V the same space as in the example of Maxwells
{f Dif f (M ) | f = } the group of vol- equations) with respect to the following reduced
ume preserving diffeomorphisms. Dif f (M ) is a Poisson bracket, which is induced via gauge sym-
closed subgroup of Dif f (M ) with Lie algebra g = metry from the canonical Poisson bracket on
V ec
(M ) = {X V ec (M ) | div X = 0} the space T Dif f (R6 ) T V
of divergence free vector fields on M . V ec
(M ) is a
{F, G}f (f, E, B) = f { F G
R
Lie subalgebra of V ec (M ). f , f }dxdv
Remark: We cannot apply the finite dimensional R F G G F
+ ( E curl B E curl B )dxdv
theorem that if V ec (M ) is Lie algebra then there (29)
exists a Lie group whose Lie albegra it is; nor that R F f G G f F
+ ( E v f E v f )dxdv
if Dif f (M ) Dif f (M ) is a closed subgroup then
F G
R
it is a Lie subgroup. + f B ( v f v f )dxdv

Applications: Fluid Dynamics and with Hamiltonian

Eulers equations for an incompressible fluid 1
Z
1
Z
H(f, E, B) = v 2 f (x, v, t)dv+ (|E|2 +|B|2 )dx .
u 2 2
+ u u = p , div u = 0 (26) (30)
t
More complicated plasma models are formulated
are equivalent to the equations of geodesics on
as Hamiltonian systems. For example, for the
Dif f (M ).
two fluid model the phase space is a coadjoint
orbits of the semidirect product (n) of the group
Symplectomorphism Group
G = Dif f (R6 ) n (C (R6 ) C (R6 )). For the
MHD model: G = Dif f (R6 ) n (C (R6 ) 2 (R3 )).
Let be a symplectic 2-from on M and
G = Dif f (M ) = {f Dif f (M ) | f = }
the group of canonical transformations (or
The KdV Equation and Fourier
symplectomorphisms). Dif f (M ) is a closed Integral Operators

subgroup of Dif f (M ) with Lie algebra
g = V ec There are many known examples of PDEs which are
(M ) = {X V ec (M ) | LX = 0}
the space of locally Hamiltonian vector fields on M . infinite dimensional Hamiltonian systems, such as
V ec the Benjamin-Ono -, Boussinesq - , Harry Dym- ,
(M ) is a Lie subalgebra of V ec (M ).
KdV- , KP- equations and others. In many cases
Applications: Plasma physics the Poisson structures and Hamiltonians are given
Maxwell-Vlasovs equations for a plasma density ad hoc on a formal level. We illustrate this with
f (x, v, t) generating the electric and magnetic fields the KdV equation, where at least one the the three
E and B are known Hamiltonian structures is well understood.
f f
t +v x + (E + v B) f
v = 0 The Korteweg - deVries (KdV) equation
B
t = curl E ut + 6uux + uxxx = 0 . (31)
E
t = curl B Jf , Jf = current density is an infinite dimensional Hamiltonian system with
div E = f , f = charge density the Lie group of invertible Fourier integral operators
is a symmetry group. Gardner found that with the
div B = 0 . bracket Z 2
(27) F G
{F, G} = dx (32)
This coupled non-linear system of evolution equations 0 u x u
is an infinite dimensional Hamiltonian system of the and Hamiltonian
form F = {F, H}f on the reduced phace space Z 2
1
6
MV = (T Dif f (R ) T V )/C (R ) 6
(28) H(u) = (u3 + u3x )dx (33)
0 2
INFINITE DIMENSIONAL HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS 8

u satisfies the KdV equation (31) if and only if involution given by Hk = T race(P k ); in particular
the Hamiltonian (33) equals H = H2 .
u = {u, H} .
See also
The question is, where does this Poisson bracket (32) Hamiltonian systems: Introduction. Symmetries.
and Hamiltonian (33) come from ? We showed that Conservation laws.
this bracket is the Lie-Poisson bracket on a coadjoint
orbit of Lie group G = F IO of invertible Fourier
integral operators on the circle S 1 . We briefly sum- References
marize:
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Complete integrability of the KdV eqaution follows
from the infinite system of conserved integral in