Feynman’s proof of the Maxwell equations and the Lorentz force equations
Starting with given Poisson brackets, Feynman posed the problem to determine the most general second-order dynamical system compatible with a prescribed set of fundamental Poisson brackets. In other words, the method employs consistency constraints and no action principle (or, alternatively, Hamiltonian approach) is assumed. The problem is related with the inverse problem in calculus of variations.
Feynman’s alternative derivation of the Maxwell equations and the Lorentz force equations (shown in 1948 to Freeman Dyson), has been conceived as a witty joke. Dyson has published a treatment of the “joke” in 1990, and since that time it has been of much interest and various generalizations have been thought of to encompass nonabelian gauge theories, gravity and so on.
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