Abstract
The Hamiltonian formulation of the BRST method for quantizing constrained systems developed recently by Nemeschanskyet al is applied to the well-known problem of the conical pendulum in classical mechanics. The similarity of the system to a gauge theory wherein the two constraints serve as generators of local Abelian gauge transformations is also pointed out. The definition of the physical states of the system as a gauge theory and also as a BRST invariant theory is then discussed in some detail.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Rahman A-M M 1983Am. J. Phys. 51 721
Aldrovandi R and Ferreira P 1980Am. J. Phys. 48 660
Becchi C, Rouet A and Stora R 1974Phys. Lett. B52 344
Becchi C, Rouet A and Stora R 1975Commun. Math. Phys. 42 127
Becchi C, Rouet A and Stora R 1976Ann. Phys. 98 287
Condon E U 1928Phys. Rev. 31 891
Dirac P A M 1964Lectures on quantum mechanics (New York: Yeshiva University)
Dirac P A M 1966Lectures on quantum field theory (New York: Yeshiva University)
Nemeschansky D, Preitschopf C and Weinstein M 1988Ann. Phys. 183 226 (referred to as I in the text)
Pradhan T and Khare A V 1973Am. J. Phys. 41 59
Ramond P 1983Field theory: A modern primer (Reading: Benjamin/Cummings)
Symon K R 1978Mechanics (Reading: Addison-Wesley)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kamath, S.G. BRST invariance and the conical pendulum. Pramana - J. Phys. 38, 11–20 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02847900
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02847900