A historical and theoretical survey of variational principles and their relationship to dynamics and quantum theory. Topics include Hamilton's principle, Hamilt

DIVHistorical, theoretical survey with many insights, much hard-to-find material. Hamilton’s principle, Hamilton-Jacobi equation, etc. /div

Variational principles have proven to be surprisingly fertile. For example, Fermat used variational methods to demonstrate that light follows the fastest route

This graduate-level text's primary objective is to demonstrate the expression of the equations of the various branches of mathematical physics in the succinct a