Gauge Functions in Classical Mechanics: From Undriven to Driven Dynamical Systems

Abstract

Novel gauge functions are introduced to non-relativistic classical mechanics and used to define forces. The obtained results show that the gauge functions directly affect the energy function and allow for converting an undriven physical system into a driven one. This is a novel phenomenon in dynamics that resembles the role of gauges in quantum field theories.

Keywords

• Lagrangian formalism
• null Lagrangians
• gauge functions
• forces
• classical mechanics