The Geometry of the solution space of first order Hamiltonian field theories I: from particle dynamics to free Electrodynamics

We start the program of defining a Poisson bracket structure on the space of solutions of the equations of motion of first order Hamiltonian field theories. The cases of Hamiltonian mechanical systems and field theories without gauge symmetries are addressed by showing the existence of a symplectic (and, thus, a Poisson) structure on the solution space. Also the easiest case of gauge theory, namely Free Electrodynamics, is considered. Here the structure on the solution space is a pre-symplectic one and the Poisson structure is defined by the aid of a flat connection on a particular bundle associated to the theory.