Hamilton-Jacobi approach for linearly acceleration-dependent Lagrangians

Abstract

We develop a constructive procedure for arriving at the Hamilton-Jacobi framework for the so-called affine in acceleration theories by analysing the canonical constraint structure. We find two scenarios in dependence of the order of the emerging equations of motion. By properly defining generalized brackets, the non-involutive constraints that originally arose, in both scenarios, may be removed so that the resulting involutive Hamiltonian constraints ensure integrability of the theories and, at the same time, lead to the right dynamics in the reduced phase space. In particular, when we have second-order in derivatives equations of motion we are able to detect the gauge invariant sector of the theory by using a suitable approach based on the projection of the Hamiltonians onto the tangential and normal directions of the congruence of curves in the configuration space. Regarding this, we also explore the generators of canonical and gauge transformations of these theories. Further, we briefly outline how to determine the Hamilton principal function $S$ for some particular setups. We apply our findings to some representative theories: a Chern-Simons-like theory in $(2+1)$-dim, an harmonic oscillator in $2D$ and, the geodetic brane cosmology emerging in the context of extra dimensions.