Projectively flat Finsler 2-spheres of constant curvature
Author(s) -
Robert L. Bryant
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
selecta mathematica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1420-9020
pISSN - 1022-1824
DOI - 10.1007/s000290050009
Subject(s) - finsler manifold , mathematics , curvature , constant (computer programming) , constant curvature , geometry , geodesic , gaussian curvature , plane (geometry) , path (computing) , mathematical analysis , pure mathematics , scalar curvature , computer science , programming language
. After recalling the structure equations of Finsler structures on surfaces, I define a notion of "generalized Finsler structure" as a way of microlocalizing the problem of describing Finsler structures subject to curvature conditions. I then recall the basic notions of path geometry on a surface and define a notion of "generalized path geometry" analogous to that of "generalized Finsler structure". I use these ideas to study the geometry of Finsler structures on the 2-sphere that have constant Finsler-Gauss curvature K and whose geodesic path geometry is projectively flat, i.e., locally equivalent to that of straight lines in the plane. I show that, modulo diffeomorphism, there is a 2-parameter family of projectively flat Finsler structures on the sphere whose Finsler-Gauss curvature K is identically 1.
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