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Primary constraint

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In Hamiltonian mechanics, a primary constraint is a relation between the coordinates and momenta that holds without using the equations of motion. A secondary constraint is one that is not primary, in other words it holds when the equations of motion are satisfied, but need not hold if they are not satisfied.

References

  • Dirac, Paul A. M. (1964), Lectures on quantum mechanics, Belfer Graduate School of Science Monographs Series, vol. 2, Belfer Graduate School of Science, New York, MR2220894 Reprinted by Dover in 2001.