Moving frames and Noether’s finite difference conservation laws II

Abstract

Abstract In this second part of the paper, we consider finite difference Lagrangians that are invariant under linear and projective actions of $SL(2)$, and the linear equi-affine action that preserves area in the plane. We first find the generating invariants, and then use the results of the first part of the paper to write the Euler–Lagrange difference equations and Noether’s difference conservation laws for any invariant Lagrangian, in terms of the invariants and a difference moving frame. We then give the details of the final integration step, assuming the Euler Lagrange equations have been solved for the invariants. This last step relies on understanding the adjoint action of the Lie group on its Lie algebra. We also use methods to integrate Lie group invariant difference equations developed in Part I. Effectively, for all three actions, we show that solutions to the Euler–Lagrange equations, in terms of the original dependent variables, share a common structure for the whole set of Lagrangians invariant under each given group action, once the invariants are known as functions on the lattice.