Equivalence theorems in affine differential geometry

In this paper we establish an affine equivalence theorem for affine submanifolds of the real affine space with arbitrary codimension. Next, this theorem is used to prove the classical congruence theorem for submanifolds of the Euclidean space, and to prove some results on affine hypersurfaces of the real affine space.Research Assistant of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium).     

Some theorems in affine differential geometry

In this paper we prove that an affine hypersphere with scalar curvature zero in a unimodular affine space of dimensionn+1 must be contained either in an elliptic paraboloid or in an affine image of the hypersurfacex ₁ x ₂...x _n+1=const. We prove also that an affine complete, affine maximal surface is an elliptic paraboloid if its affine normals omit 4 or more directions in general position.The Project Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Conjugate connections and Radon's theorem in affine differential geometry

For a given nondegenerate hypersurfaceM ⁿ in affine space ? ⁿ⁺¹ there exist an affine connection ?, called the induced connection, and a nondegenerate metrich, called the affine metric, which are uniquely determined. The cubic formC=?h is totally symmetric and satisfies the so-called apolarity condition relative toh. A natural question is, conversely, given an affine connection ? and a nondegenerate metrich on a differentiable manifoldM ⁿ such that ?h is totally symmetric and satisfies the apolarity condition relative toh, canM ⁿ be locally immersed in ? ⁿ⁺¹ in such a way that (?,h) is realized as the induced structure? In 1918J. Radon gave a necessary and sufficient condition (somewhat complicated) for the problem in the casen=2. The purpose of the present paper is to give a necessary and sufficient condition for the problem in casesn=2 andn≥3 in terms of the curvature tensorR of the connection ?. We also provide another formulation valid for all dimensionsn: A necessary and sufficient condition for the realizability of (?,h) is that the conjugate connection of ? relative toh is projectively flat.     

Focal points and support functions in affine differential geometry

The notions of focal point and support function are considered for a nondegenerate hypersurfaceM ⁿ in affine spaceR ⁿ⁺¹ equipped with an equiaffine transversal field. IfM ⁿ is locally strictly convex, these two concepts are related via an Index theorem concerning the critical points of the support functions onM ⁿ . This is used to obtain characterizations of spheres and ellipsoids in terms of the critical point behavior of certain classes of affine support functions.Research supported by NSF Grant No. DMS-9101961.     

Divisibility of multilinear mappings with applications to affine differential geometry

For real finite-dimensional vector spaces V, W we call a bilinear symmetric mapping h?:?V?×?V?→?W non-degenerate if the components of h with respect to a certain basis are linearly independent and non-degenerate. We say that a symmetric trilinear mapping C?:?V?×?V?×?V?→?W is divisible by h if there exists a linear form α such that C(v,?v,?v)?=?α(v)h(v,?v) for every v?∈?V. In affine differential geometry of affine immersions h is the second fundamental form and C – the cubic form of the immersion. The immersion has pointwise planar normal sections if h(v,?v)?∧?C(v,?v,?v)?=?0 for every tangent vector v. We prove that it implies that C is divisible by h if h is non-degenerate and the codimension is greater than two. For immersions with Wiehe's or Sasaki's choice of transversal bundles divisibility of C by h implies vanishing of C.     

Gheorghe Ţiţeica and the origins of affine differential geometry

We describe the historical and ideological context that brought to the fore the study of a centro-affine invariant that subsequently received much attention. The invariant was introduced by ?i?eica in 1907, and this discovery has been viewed by many as a consequence of Klein's Erlangen program. We thus present the starting point of affine differential geometry, as it was discovered by ?i?eica after his years in the Ph.D. program in Paris (1896–1899) under the guidance of Gaston Darboux.     

Sperner extensions of affine spaces

In this paper Sperner spaces are constructed in which the affine space can be embedded in a certain sense.     

Quantifier elimination for elementary geometry and elementary affine geometry

We introduce new first‐order languages for the elementary n‐dimensional geometry and elementary n‐dimensional affine geometry (n ≥ 2), based on extending $\mathsf {FO}(\beta ,\equiv )$ and $\mathsf {FO}(\beta )$, respectively, with new function symbols. Here, β stands for the betweenness relation and ≡ for the congruence relation. We show that the associated theories admit effective quantifier elimination.     

Projective injections of geometries and their affine extensions

We present a general method allowing the construction geometries whose diagram is an extension of the diagram of a given geometry. Some applications of this construction process are described.     

Branched affine and projective structures on compact Riemann surfaces

It is first established that there exist linear manifolds of branched affine structures having certain nonpolar branch divisors and simple polar divisors on an arbitrary compact Riemann surface M of genus g≤1. When ≥2, it is shown that these linear manifolds form a complex analytic vector bundle over the manifold of simple polar divisors on M. When g=1, elliptic functions are used to construct certain projective structures on M. A partial determination is made as to which of these projective structures are affine and which are not.     

Some relations between riemannian and affine geometry

The aim of the paper is to characterize metric normals in terms of affine geometry and derive from that some consequences for affine geometry. Also, an affine affine version of the theorema egregium is proved.This research was supported by AvHumboldt Stiftung.