Riemannian flag manifolds with homogeneous geodesics

A geodesic in a Riemannian homogeneous manifold is called a homogeneous geodesic if it is an orbit of a one-parameter subgroup of the Lie group . We investigate -invariant metrics with homogeneous geodesics (i.e., such that all geodesics are homogeneous) when is a flag manifold, that is, an adjoint orbit of a compact semisimple Lie group . We use an important invariant of a flag manifold , its -root system, to give a simple necessary condition that admits a non-standard -invariant metric with homogeneous geodesics. Hence, the problem reduces substantially to the study of a short list of prospective flag manifolds. A common feature of these spaces is that their isotropy representation has two irreducible components. We prove that among all flag manifolds of a simple Lie group , only the manifold of complex structures in , and the complex projective space admit a non-naturally reductive invariant metric with homogeneous geodesics. In all other cases the only -invariant metric with homogeneous geodesics is the metric which is homothetic to the standard metric (i.e., the metric associated to the negative of the Killing form of the Lie algebra of ). According to F. Podestà and G.Thorbergsson (2003), these manifolds are the only non-Hermitian symmetric flag manifolds with coisotropic action of the stabilizer.

     

Polyhedral Finsler spaces with locally unique geodesics

We study Finsler PL spaces, that is simplicial complexes glued out of simplices cut off from some normed spaces. We are interested in the class of Finsler PL spaces featuring local uniqueness of geodesics (for complexes made of Euclidean simplices, this property is equivalent to local CAT(0)). Though non-Euclidean normed spaces never satisfy CAT(0), it turns out that they share many common features. In particular, a globalization theorem holds: in a simply-connected Finsler PL space local uniqueness of geodesics implies the global one. However the situation is more delicate here: some basic convexity properties do not extend to the PL Finsler case.     

Closed geodesics on positively curved Finsler spheres

In this paper, we prove that for every Finsler n-sphere (Sn,F) for n?3 with reversibility λ and flag curvature K satisfying , either there exist infinitely many prime closed geodesics or there exists one elliptic closed geodesic whose linearized Poincaré map has at least one eigenvalue which is of the form exp(πiμ) with an irrational μ. Furthermore, there always exist three prime closed geodesics on any (S³,F) satisfying the above pinching condition.     

Curvatures of homogeneous Randers spaces

We study curvatures of homogeneous Randers spaces. After deducing the coordinate-free formulas of the flag curvature and Ricci scalar of homogeneous Randers spaces, we give several applications. We first present a direct proof of the fact that a homogeneous Randers space is Ricci quadratic if and only if it is a Berwald space. We then prove that any left invariant Randers metric on a non-commutative nilpotent Lie group must have three flags whose flag curvature is positive, negative and zero, respectively. This generalizes a result of J.A. Wolf on Riemannian metrics. We prove a conjecture of J. Milnor on the characterization of central elements of a real Lie algebra, in a more generalized sense. Finally, we study homogeneous Finsler spaces of positive flag curvature and particularly prove that the only compact connected simply connected Lie group admitting a left invariant Finsler metric with positive flag curvature is SU(2)$\text{SU}\left(2\right)$.     

Three dimensional homogeneous Finsler manifolds

In this paper we study three dimensional homogeneous Finsler manifolds. We first obtain a complete list of the three‐dimensional homogeneous manifolds which admit invariant Finsler metrics. Then we consider invariant Randers metrics and present the classification of three dimensional homogeneous Randers spaces under isometrics.     

The existence of light‐like homogeneous geodesics in homogeneous Lorentzian manifolds

In previous papers, a fundamental affine method for studying homogeneous geodesics was developed. Using this method and elementary differential topology it was proved that any homogeneous affine manifold and in particular any homogeneous pseudo‐Riemannian manifold admits a homogeneous geodesic through arbitrary point. In the present paper this affine method is refined and adapted to the pseudo‐Riemannian case. Using this method and elementary topology it is proved that any homogeneous Lorentzian manifold of even dimension admits a light‐like homogeneous geodesic. The method is illustrated in detail with an example of the Lie group of dimension 3 with an invariant metric, which does not admit any light‐like homogeneous geodesic.     

Locally symmetric positively curved Finsler spaces

We showed that any compact locally symmetric Finsler metric with positive flag curvature must be Riemannian. Dedicated to Professor Karsten Grove on the occassion of his sixtieth birthday Received: 8 May 2006     

The S-curvature of homogeneous Randers spaces

In this paper, we give an explicit formula of the S-curvature of homogeneous Randers spaces and prove that a homogeneous Randers space with almost isotropic S-curvature must have vanishing S-curvature. As an application, we obtain a classification of homogeneous Randers space with almost isotropic S-curvature in some special cases. Some examples are also given.     

Globally minimal homogeneous subspaces in compact homogeneous sympletic spaces

It is a general problem to describe and classify the globally minimal surfaces in homogeneous spaces. The present paper studies and answers the following problem: When is a homogeneous subspace whose isometry group is one of the classical groups, a globally minimal submanifold in a regular orbit of the adjoint representation of a classical group?     

Relation between metric spaces and Finsler spaces

In a connected Finsler space Fn=(M,F) every ordered pair of points p,q∈M determines a distance ?F(p,q) as the infimum of the arc length of curves joining p to q. (M,?F) is a metric space if Fn is absolutely homogeneous, and it is quasi-metric space (i.e. the symmetry: ?F(p,q)=?F(q,p) fails) if Fn is positively homogeneous only. It is known the Busemann-Mayer relation , for any differentiable curve p(t) in an Fn. This establishes a 1:1 relation between Finsler spaces Fn=(M,F) and (quasi-) metric spaces (M,?F).We show that a distance function ?(p,q) (with the differentiability property of ?F) needs not to be a ?F. This means that the family {(M,?)} is wider than {(M,?F)}. We give a necessary and sufficient condition in two versions for a ? to be a ?F, i.e. for a (quasi-) metric space (M,?) to be equivalent (with respect to the distance) to a Finsler space (M,F).     

The classification of 4-dimensional homogeneous D'Atri spaces revisited

In this short note we correct the (incomplete) classification theorem from [F. Podestà, A. Spiro, Four-dimensional Einstein-like manifolds and curvature homogeneity, Geom. Dedicata 54 (1995) 225-243], we improve a result from [P. Bueken, L. Vanhecke, Three- and four-dimensional Einstein-like manifolds and homogeneity, Geom. Dedicata 75 (1999) 123-136] and we announce the final solution of the classification problem for 4-dimensional homogeneous D'Atri spaces.     

A splitting theorem for compact complex homogeneous spaces with a symplectic structure

In this note we prove a splitting theorem for compact complex homogeneous spaces with a cohomology 2 class [] such that the top power [ ⁿ ]0.Dedicated to Professor W. C. Hsiang on the occasion of his 60th birthdayPartially supported by NSF Grant DMS-9401755.     

Multiplicity and stability of closed geodesics on bumpy Finsler 3-spheres

We prove that for every Q-homological Finsler 3-sphere (M, F) with a bumpy and irreversible metric F, either there exist two non-hyperbolic prime closed geodesics, or there exist at least three prime closed geodesics. Huagui Duan: Partially supported by NNSF and RFDP of MOE of China. Yiming Long: Partially supported by the 973 Program of MOST, Yangzi River Professorship, NNSF, MCME, RFDP, LPMC of MOE of China, S. S. Chern Foundation, and Nankai University.     

On the fundamental equations of homogeneous Finsler spaces

By introducing the notion of single colored Finsler manifold, we deduce the curvature formulas of a homogeneous Finsler space. It results in a set of fundamental equations that are more elegant than the Riemannian case. Several applications of the equations are also supplied.     

Sub-Riemannian homogeneous spaces in dimensions 3 and 4

Let (M, , g) be a sub-Riemannian manifold (i.e. M is a smooth manifold, is a smooth distribution on M and g is a smooth metric defined on ) such that the dimension of M is either 3 or 4 and is a contact or odd-contact distribution, respectively. We construct an adapted connection on M and use it to study the equivalence problem. Furthermore, we classify the 3-dimensional sub-Riemannian manifolds which are sub-homogeneous and show the relation to Cartan's list of homogeneous CR manifolds. Finally, we classify the 4-dimensional sub-Riemannian manifolds which are sub-symmetric.