Dualities of self-dual nonlinear electrodynamics

Abstract

For any causal nonlinear electrodynamics theory that is “self-dual” (electromagnetic U(1)-duality invariant), the Legendre-dual pair of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian densities LH\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\left\\{\\mathcal{L},\\mathcal{H}\\right\\} $$\\end{document} are constructed from functions ℓh\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\left\\{\\ell, \\mathfrak{h}\\right\\} $$\\end{document} on ℝ+ related to a particle-mechanics Lagrangian and Hamiltonian. We show how a ‘duality’ relating ℓ to h\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathfrak{h} $$\\end{document} implies that L\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{L} $$\\end{document} and H\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{H} $$\\end{document} are related by a simple map between appropriate pairs of variables. We also discuss Born’s “Legendre self-duality” and implications of a new “Φ-parity” duality. Our results are illustrated with many examples.