Symplectic Geometry, Poisson Geometry, and Beyond

Abstract: Symplectic and Poisson geometry emerged as a tool to understand the mathematical structure behind classical mechanics. However, due to its huge development over the past century, it has become an independent field of research in differential geometry. In this lecture notes, we will introduce the essential objects and techniques in symplectic geometry (e.g Darboux coordinates, Lagrangian submanifolds, cotangent bundles) and Poisson geometry (e.g symplectic foliations, some examples of Poisson structures). This geometric approach will be motivated by examples from classical physics, and at the end we will explore applications of symplectic and Poisson geometry to Lie theory and other fields of mathematical physics.