Mini course by Geoff Prince (La Trobe University, Australia)
Date and location: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu Sep 11-14 2023, at 13:45--15:45 in M.G.016 (campus Middelheim)
Title: Exterior Differential Systems and the Inverse Problem in the Calculus of Variations
Abstract: The Euler-Lagrange equations form the finite system of second-order ordinary differential equations that play a central role in the calculus of variations. In these differential geometry lectures I first introduce the inverse problem of the calculus of variations. That is, the question concerning the uniqueness and existence of a Lagrangian function for a given system of second order ODEs. Next, I will discuss the Exterior Differential Systems approach to solve systems of PDEs and I apply EDS specifically to the inverse problem.