The Hamilton-Jacobi problem is revisited bearing in mind the consequences arising from a possible bi-Hamiltonian structure. The problem is formulated on the tangent bundle for Lagrangian systems in order to avoid the bias of the existence of a natural symplectic structure on the cotangent bundle. First it is developed for systems described by regular Lagrangians and then extended to systems described by singular Lagrangians with no secondary constraints. We also consider the example of the free relativistic particle, the rigid body and the electron-monopole system.

We construct a lagrangian geometric formulation for first-order field theories using the canonical structures of first-order jet bundles, which are taken as the phase spaces of the systems in consideration. First of all, we construct all the geometric structures associated with a firstorder jet bundle and, using them, we develop the lagrangian formalism, defining the canonical forms associated with a lagrangian density and the density of lagrangian energy, obtaining the Euler-Lagrange equations in two equivalent ways: as the result of a variational problem and developing the jet field formalism (which is a formulation more similar to the case of mechanical systems). A statement and proof of Noether's theorem is also given, using the latter formalism.Finally, some classical examples are briefly studied.

We provide new insights into the contact Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations of dissipative mechanical systems. In particular, we state a new form of the contact dynamical equations, and we review two recently presented Lagrangian formalisms, studying their equivalence. We define several kinds of symmetries for contact dynamical systems, as well as the notion of dissipation laws, prove a dissipation theorem and give a way to construct conserved quantities. Some well-known examples of dissipative systems are discussed.

In the jet bundle description of Field Theories (multisymplectic models, in particular), there are several choices for the multimomentum bundle where the covariant Hamiltonian formalism takes place. As a consequence, several proposals for this formalism can be stated, and, on each one of them, the differentiable structures needed for setting the formalism are obtained in different ways. In this work we make an accurate study of some of these Hamiltonian formalisms, showing their equivalence. In particular, the geometrical structures (canonical or not) needed for the Hamiltonian formalism, are introduced and compared, and the derivation of Hamiltonian field equations from the corresponding variational principle is shown in detail. Furthermore, the Hamiltonian formalism of systems described by Lagrangians is performed, both for the hyper-regular and almost-regular cases. Finally, the role of connections in the construction of Hamiltonian Field theories is clarified.Comment: 50 pages. LaTeX fil

The integrability of multivector fields in a differentiable manifold is studied. Then, given a jet bundle J 1 E → E → M , it is shown that integrable multivector fields in E are equivalent to integrable connections in the bundle E → M (that is, integrable jet fields in J 1 E). This result is applied to the particular case of multivector fields in the manifold J 1 E and connections in the bundle J 1 E → M (that is, jet fields in the repeated jet bundle J 1 J 1 E), in order to characterize integrable multivector fields and connections whose integral manifolds are canonical lifting of sections.These results allow us to set the Lagrangian evolution equations for first-order classical field theories in three equivalent geometrical ways (in a form similar to that in which the Lagrangian dynamical equations of non-autonomous mechanical systems are usually given). Then, using multivector fields; we discuss several aspects of these evolution equations (both for the regular and singular cases); namely: the existence and non-uniqueness of solutions, the integrability problem and Noether's theorem; giving insights into the differences between mechanics and field theories.

We develop a new geometric framework suitable for dealing with Hamiltonian field theories with dissipation. To this end we define the notions of k-contact structure and k-contact Hamiltonian system. This is a generalization of both the contact Hamiltonian systems in mechanics and the k-symplectic Hamiltonian systems in field theory. The concepts of symmetries and dissipation laws are introduced and developed. Two relevant examples are analyzed in detail: the damped vibrating string and Burgers' equation.

The geometric formulation of Hamilton-Jacobi theory for systems with nonholonomic constraints is developed, following the ideas of the authors in previous papers. The relation between the solutions of the Hamilton-Jacobi problem with the symplectic structure defined from the Lagrangian function and the constraints is studied. The concept of complete solutions and their relationship with constants of motion, are also studied in detail. Local expressions using quasivelocities are provided. As an example, the nonholonomic free particle is considered.

We state the intrinsic form of the Hamiltonian equations of first-order Classical Field theories in three equivalent geometrical ways: using multivector fields, jet fields and connections. Thus, these equations are given in a form similar to that in which the Hamiltonian equations of mechanics are usually given.Then, using multivector fields, we study several aspects of these equations, such as the existence and non-uniqueness of solutions, and the integrability problem. In particular, these problems are analyzed for the case of Hamiltonian systems defined in a submanifold of the multimomentum bundle. Furthermore, the existence of first integrals of these Hamiltonian equations is considered, and the relation between Cartan-Noether symmetries and general symmetries of the system is discussed. Noether's theorem is also stated in this context, both the "classical" version and its generalization to include higher-order Cartan-Noether symmetries. Finally, the equivalence between the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms is also discussed.