English

The algebraic entropy of classical mechanics

Mathematical Physics 2009-11-07 v1 math.MP

Abstract

We describe the `Lie algebra of classical mechanics', modelled on the Lie algebra generated by kinetic and potential energy of a simple mechanical system with respect to the canonical Poisson bracket. It is a polynomially graded Lie algebra, a class we introduce. We describe these Lie algebras, give an algorithm to calculate the dimensions cnc_n of the homogeneous subspaces of the Lie algebra of classical mechanics, and determine the value of its entropy limncn1/n\lim_{n\to\infty} c_n^{1/n}. It is 1.82542377420108...1.82542377420108..., a fundamental constant associated to classical mechanics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math-ph/0210030,
  title  = {The algebraic entropy of classical mechanics},
  author = {Robert I McLachlan and Brett Ryland},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math-ph/0210030},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

23 pages, 2 figures, submitted to J Math Phys

R2 v1 2026-07-22T16:22:00.709Z