DYNAMICS OF RELATIVISTIC-PARTICLES WITH LAGRANGIANS DEPENDENT ON ACCELERATION

Models of relativistic particles with Lagrangians L(k(1)), depending on the curvature of the worldline k(1), are considered. By making use of the Frenet basis, the equations of motion are reformulated in terms of the principal curvatures of the worldline. It is shown that for arbitrary Lagrangian function L(k(1)) these equations are completely integrable, i.e., the principal curvatures are defined by integrals. The constants of integration are the particle mass and its spin. The developed method is applied to the study of a model of a relativistic particle with maximal proper acceleration, whose Lagrangian is uniquely determined by a modified form of the invariant relativistic interval. This model gives us an example of a consistent relativistic dynamics obeying the principle of a superiorly limited value of the acceleration, advanced recently. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.