The Schwinger action principle for classical systems

TL;DR

This paper applies the Schwinger action principle within the Koopman-von Neumann framework to derive equations of motion for non-dissipative classical systems, offering a variational perspective on velocity-independent forces.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of the Schwinger action principle to classical mechanics in the Koopman-von Neumann formalism, focusing on non-dissipative systems.

Findings

Derivation of classical equations of motion using the Schwinger action principle

Interpretation of the principle as a variational approach for velocity-independent forces

Application restricted to non-dissipative classical systems

Abstract

We use the Schwinger action principle to obtain the equations of motion in the Koopman-von Neumann operational version of classical mechanics. We restrict our analysis to non-dissipative systems. We show that the Schwinger action principle can be interpreted as a variational principle for velocity-independent forces.