The Inverse Variational Problem and Logistic Self-Regulated Systems

Abstract

There exists in nature many examples of systems presenting self-limiting behaviour: population dynamics, structure engineering, Townsend's electron breakdown, nuclear decay in radioactive equilibrium, histeresis process, meteorological models, etcetera. In this work we call attention to the advantages the use of a variational formulation should provide to the study of self-regulated systems, such as a unified description of the related phenomena, further comprehension of the internal structure and symmetries of the related equations, and the determination of the equilibria points via the energy function. We study the case of logistic systems, obtaining explicitly several s-equivalent Lagrangeans corresponding to the Verhulst's equation. Some dynamical properties are discussed in the light of this approach. Expressions for the mean energy function are also obtained. Keywords: logistic equation, Verhulst's Lagrangean, self-regulated systems. PACS: 02.30.Zz, 45.20.Jj, 87.23.Cc