Effective action of string theory at order $$\alpha '$$ in the presence of boundary

Recently, using the assumption that the string theory effective action at the critical dimension is background independent, the classical on-shell effective action of the bosonic string theory at order $$\alpha '$$ α ′ in a spacetime manifold without boundary has been reproduced, up to an overall parameter, by imposing the O(1, 1) symmetry when the background has a circle. In the presence of the boundary, we consider a background which has boundary and a circle such that the unit normal vector of the boundary is independent of the circle. Then the O(1, 1) symmetry can fix the bulk action without using the lowest order equation of motion. Moreover, the above constraints and the constraint from the principle of the least action in the presence of boundary can fix the boundary action, up to five boundary parameters. In the least action principle, we assume that not only the values of the massless fields but also the values of their first derivatives are arbitrary on the boundary. We have also observed that the cosmological reduction of the leading order action in the presence of the Hawking–Gibbons boundary term, produces zero cosmological boundary action. Imposing this as another constraint on the boundary couplings at order $$\alpha '$$ α ′ , we find the boundary action up to two parameters. For a specific value for these two parameters, the gravity couplings in the boundary become the Chern–Simons gravity plus another term which has the Laplacian of the extrinsic curvature.

Causality in Discrete Time Physics Derived from Maupertuis Reduced Action Principle

Causality describes the process and consequences from an action: a cause has an effect. Causality is preserved in classical physics as well as in special and general theories of relativity. Surprisingly, causality as a relationship between the cause and its effect is in neither of these theories considered a law or a principle. Its existence in physics has even been challenged by prominent opponents in part due to the time symmetric nature of the physical laws. With the use of the reduced action and the least action principle of Maupertuis along with a discrete dynamical time physics yielding an arrow of time, causality is defined as the partial spatial derivative of the reduced action and as such is position- and momentum-dependent and requests the presence of space. With this definition the system evolves from one step to the next without the need of time, while (discrete) time can be reconstructed.

Lagrange formalism in field theory

This chapter is devoted to a general discussion of classical field theory. It presents the minimum information required about classical fields for the subsequent treatment of quantum theory in the rest of the book. The Lagrange formalism for the fields is introduced, based on the least action principle. Global symmetries are described, and the proof of Noether's theorem given. In addition, the energy-momentum tensor for a field system is constructed as an example.

A least action principle for interceptive walking

The principle of least effort has been widely used to explain phenomena related to human behavior ranging from topics in language to those in social systems. It has precedence in the principle of least action from the Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics. In this study, we present a model for interceptive human walking based on the least action principle. Taking inspiration from Lagrangian mechanics, a Lagrangian is defined as effort minus security, with two different specific mathematical forms. The resulting Euler–Lagrange equations are then solved to obtain the equations of motion. The model is validated using experimental data from a virtual reality crossing simulation with human participants. We thus conclude that the least action principle provides a useful tool in the study of interceptive walking.

Constructions of f(R,G,𝒯) gravity from some expansions of the Universe

Here we propose the extended modified gravity theory named [Formula: see text] gravity where [Formula: see text] is the Ricci scalar, [Formula: see text] is the Gauss–Bonnet invariant, and [Formula: see text] is the trace of the stress-energy tensor. We derive the gravitational field equations in [Formula: see text] gravity by taking the least action principle. Next we construct the [Formula: see text] in terms of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in de Sitter as well as power-law expansion. We also construct [Formula: see text] if the expansion follows the finite-time future singularity (big rip singularity). We investigate the energy conditions in this modified theory of gravity and examine the validity of all energy conditions.

Least action principle and gravitational double layer

The higher derivative gravitational theories exhibit new phenomena absent in General Relativity. One of them is the possible formation of the so called double layer which is the pure gravitational phenomenon and can be interpreted, in a sense, as the gravitational shock wave. In this paper we show how some very important features of the double layer equations of motion can be extracted straight from the least action principle.

The Definition of Aesthetics and Beauty

This chapter proposes the definition of beauty and discusses the levels of beauty and the structure of beauty. This chapter points out that Aesthetics should be a science that studies beauty in general, including natural beauty, artistic beauty, design beauty, and aesthetic feelings. Beauty, just like material and thinking, is the foundation of everything, without which the world won't even exist. Beauty is an evolutionary existence, an objective and natural existence, and an existence of emergence. It is hierarchical, structural, and dynamic, and its core is the “least action principle”.

The Fundamental Principles and Laws of the Ontology of Systems Aesthetic Philosophy

This chapter notes that the philosophical ontology of system aesthetics is also the ontology of the systems philosophy and points out that system philosophy is the foundation of systemic beauty and explains the basic rules of systemic aesthetics. According to the view of systems philosophy, beauty lies in the unity of system diversity: the regularity and the rationality of the unity, the symmetry and non-conservation of the universe, the fit-for-purpose of the least action principle, and the hierarchy and structure of optimization. Those all constitute the overall beauty of systems aesthetics.