Invariant variational structures on fibered manifolds

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a relatively complete theory of invariance of global, higher-order integral variational functionals in fibered spaces, as developed during a few past decades. We unify and extend recent results of the geometric invariance theory; new results on deformations of extremals are also included. We show that the theory can be developed by means of the general concept of invariance of a differential form in geometry, which does not require different ad hoc modifications. The concept applies to invariance of Lagrangians, source forms and Euler–Lagrange forms, as well as to extremals of the given variational functional. Equations for generators of invariance transformations of the Lagrangians and the Euler–Lagrange forms are characterized in terms of Lie derivatives. As a consequence of invariance, we derive the global Noether's theorem on existence of conserved currents along extremals, and discuss the meaning of conservation equations. We prove a theorem describing extremals, whose deformations by a vector field are again extremals. The general settings and structures we use admit extension of the global invariance theory to variational principles in physics, especially in field theory.