The Lagrangian density for diffusion

A major complication exists for constructing the Lagrangian density of a pair of particles diffusing relative to each other. The diffusion (Euler) equation is dissipative and the density of the diffusing species is not conserved. The Euler density, p, would lead to a space—time invariant, Sfr, which would not be constant. This difficulty requires the same approach as that used to handle the Schrodinger equation. Morse and Feshbach [499] define a reverse or backward diffusion equation where time goes backwards compared with that in eqn. (254) 

It is of special interest to make the connection of this with the Lagrangian density. Consider this expression multiplied by — 1/2, and set 

This approach to defining the Lagrangian density with the aid of both forward and backward Euler densities ip and ip uses the neat construct that ip ip is time-invariant. This is as true in the quantum mechanical analogy. 

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