Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/ii/paper-1/32e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 ii Paper 1 32E Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
A Poisson structure is a smooth antisymmetric matrix field defining a bracketthat obeys the Jacobi identity. Bilinearity, antisymmetry and the product rule follow from this formula; Jacobi is the remaining condition. Applying Jacobi to the coordinate functions givesThese are also sufficient: expanding Jacobi for arbitrary functions cancels all second-derivative terms by antisymmetry, leaving these coefficients multiplying their first derivatives.
For , the nonconstant function is a Casimir function of a Poisson manifold, becauseby symmetry of . This is the usual three-dimensional Lie-Poisson bracket.
Since the matrix is symmetric, . The Hamilton equations are , and henceOne valid choice of coefficients is . If symmetric coefficients in are preferred, the same equations useIn vector notation the evolution is , consistent with the bracket convention and with preservation of .
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