The $π$-exterior derivative $ød$, which is the Finslerian generalization of the (usual) exterior derivative $d$ of Riemannian geometry, is defined. The notion of a $ød$-closed vector field is introduced and investigated. Various characterizations of $ød$-closed vector fields are established. Some results concerning $ød$-closed vector fields in relation to certain special Finsler spaces are obtained.
In this paper, we consider Cheeger's constant and the first eigenvalue of the nonlinear Laplacian on closed Finsler manifolds. Being based on these, we establish Cheeger's inequality and Buser's inequality for closed Finsler manifolds.
We show the existence of at least two geometrically distinct closed geodesics on an n-dimensional sphere with a bumpy and non-reversible Finsler metric for n>2.
The geometry and analysis on Finsler manifolds is a very important part of Finsler geometry. In this article, we introduce some important and fundamental topics in global Finsler geometry and discuss the related properties and the relationships in them. In particular, we optimize and improve the various definitions of Lie derivatives on Finsler manifolds. We also characterize the gradient vector fields and obtain a gradient estimate for any smooth function on a Randers manifold.
For non-reversible Finsler metrics of positive flag curvature on spheres and projective spaces we present results about the number and the length of closed geodesics and about their stability properties.
In this paper we prove that for every bumpy Finsler metric $F$ on every rationally homological $n$-dimensional sphere $S^n$ with $n\ge 2$, there exist always at least two distinct prime closed geodesics.
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.
As a natural application of the {\it theory of geometric averaging} in Finsler geometry and generalized Finsler geometry, a new approach to investigate {\it generalized Finsler geometry}, based on a convex invariance of the average structures, is introduced.
Here, a non-linear analysis method is applied rather than classical one to study projective Finsler geometry. More intuitively, by means of an inequality on Ricci-Finsler curvature, a projectively invariant pseudo-distance is introduced and an analogous of Schwarz' lemma in Finsler geometry is proved. Next, the Schwarz' lemma is applied to show that the introduced pseudo-distance is a distance. This projectively invariant distance will be served in continuation of this work to investigate Einstein-Finsler spaces and classify Finsler spaces as well.
Here, an axiom of spheres in Finsler geometry is proposed and it is proved that if a Finslerian manifold satisfies the axiom of spheres then it is of constant flag curvature.
Adopting the pullback formalism, a new linear connection in Finsler geometry has been introduced and investigated. Such connection unifies all formerly known Finsler connections and some other connections not introduced so far. Also, our connection is a Finslerian version of the Tripathi connection introduced in Riemannian geometry. The existence and uniqueness of such connection is proved intrinsically. An explicit intrinsic expression relating this connection to Cartan connection is obtained. Some generalized Finsler connections are constructed from Tripathi Finsler connection, by applying t…
A method to generalize results from Riemannian Geometry to Finsler geometry is presented. We use the method to generalize several results that involve only metric conditions. Between them we show that the topology induced by the Finsler structure is equivalent to the manifold topology, we provide a new proof of the Hopf-Rinow theorem in Finsler geometry and we prove the existence of the center of mass of a convex body when the non-symmetric distance function comes from a non-reversible Finsler function.
We prove Hessian comparison theorems, Laplacian comparison theorems and volume comparison theorems of Finsler manifolds under various curvature conditions. As applications, we derive Mckean type theorems for the first eigenvalue of Finsler manifolds, as well as generalize a result on fundamental group due to Milnor to Finsler manifolds.
The main goal of this paper is to generalize some Li-Yau type gradient estimates to Finsler geometry in order to derive Harnack type inequalities. Moreover, we obtain, under some curvature assumption, a general gradient estimate for positive solutions of the heat equation when the manifold evolving along the Finsler Ricci flow.
An (I,J,K)-generalized Finsler structure on a 3-manifold is a generalization of a Finslerian structure, introduced in order to separate and clarify the local and global aspects in Finsler geometry making use of the Cartan's method of exterior differential systems. In this paper, we show that there is a close relation between (I,J,1)-generalized Finsler structures and a class of contact circles, namely the so-called Cartan structures. This correspondence allows us to determine the topology of 3-manifolds that admit (I, J, 1)-generalized Finsler structures and to single out classes of (I, J, 1)-…
In this short paper, we study a symmetric covariant tensor in Finsler geometry, which is called the mean Berwald curvature. We first investigate the geometry of the fibres as the submanifolds of the tangent sphere bundle on a Finsler manifold. Then we prove that if the mean Berwald curvature is isotropic along fibres, then the Berwald scalar curvature is constant along fibres.
In this paper, we first establish an equivalence theorem of Minkowski spaces by using results in centro-affine differential geometry. As an application in Finsler geometry, we gives some new characterizations of Berwald spaces.
In this paper, we generalize the classification of geodesic orbit spheres from Riemannian geometry to Finsler geometry. Then we further prove if a geodesic orbit Finsler sphere has constant flag curvature, it must be Randers. It provides an alternative proof for the classification of invariant Finsler metrics with $K\equiv1$ on homogeneous spheres other than $Sp(n)/Sp(n-1)$.
The sub-Finslerian geometry means that the metric $F$ is defined only on a given subbundle of the tangent bundle, called a horizontal bundle. In the paper, a version of the Hopf-Rinow theorem is proved in the case of sub-Finslerian manifolds, which relates the properties of completeness, geodesically completeness, and compactness. The sub-Finsler bundle, the exponential map and the Legendre transformation are deeply involved in this investigation.
We prove that a reversible Berwaldian Finsler structure $\left(M,F\right)$ with base-independent non-negative radial flag curvature and large volume growth does not have any closed geodesics.
I show that Matsumoto conjectured inequality between relative length and Finsler length is false. The incorrectness of the claim is easily inferred from the geometry of the indicatrix.
In this paper, we prove that on every Finsler $n$-sphere $(S^n, F)$ for $n\ge 6$ with reversibility $λ$ and flag curvature $K$ satisfying $(\fracλ{λ+1})^2<K\le 1$, either there exist infinitely many prime closed geodesics or there exist $[\frac{n}{2}]-2$ closed geodesics possessing irrational average indices. If in addition the metric is bumpy, then there exist $n-3$ closed geodesics possessing irrational average indices provided the number of closed geodesics is finite.
In this short note, we prove that if $F$ is a weak upper semicontinuous admissible Finsler structure on a domain in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $n\geq 2$, then the intrinsic distance and differential structures coincide.
When a closed Finsler manifold admits continuous isometric actions, estimating the number of orbits of prime closed geodesics seems a more reasonable substitution for estimating the number of prime closed geodesics. To generalize the works of H. Duan, Y. Long, H.B. Rademacher, W. Wang and others on the existence of two prime closed geodesics to the equivariant situation, we purpose the question if a closed Finsler manifold has only one orbit of prime closed geodesic if and only if it is a compact rank-one Riemannian symmetric space. In this paper, we study this problem in homogeneous Finsler g…
In this paper, we establish two Santaló type formulas for general Finsler manifolds. As applications, we derive a universal lower bound for the first eigenvalue of the nonlinear Laplacian, two Croke type isoperimetric inequalities, and a Yamaguch type finiteness theorem in Finser geometry.
Based on a self-contained, coordinate-free exposition of the necessary concepts and tools of spray and Finsler geometry (with detailed proofs), we derive new results among others on the consequences of the direction-independence of the Landsberg tensor and the stretch tensor of a Finsler manifold. We show that an at least 3-dimensional Finsler manifold with vanishing projected Berwald tensor is a Berwald manifold. To obtain consequences in two dimensions, we transcript Berwald's classical theory on 2-dimensional Finsler manifolds in our setup. We prove criteria and necessary conditions for Fin…
We propose a unified approach to the theory of connections in the geometry of sprays and Finsler metrics which, in particular, gives a simple explanation of the well-known fact that all the classical Finslerian connections provide exactly the same formulas appearing in the calculus of variations.
For compact manifolds with infinite fundamental group we present sufficient topological or metric conditions ensuring the existence of two geometrically distinct closed geodesics. We also show how results about generic Riemannian metrics can be carried over to Finsler metrics.
In complex Finsler geometry, an open problem is: does there exist a weakly Kähler Finsler metric which is not Kähler? In this paper, we give an affirmative answer to this open problem. More precisely, we construct a family of the weakly Kähler Finsler metrics which are non-Kähler. The examples belong to the unitary invariant complex Randers metrics. Furthermore, a uniformization theorem of the unitary invariant complex Randers metrics with constant holomorphic curvature is proved under the weakly Kähler condition.
Ricci solitons on Finsler spaces, previously developed by the present authors, are a generalization of Einstein spaces, which can be considered as a solution to the Ricci flow on compact Finsler manifolds. In the present work it is shown that on a Finslerian space, a forward complete shrinking Ricci soliton is compact if and only if it is bounded. Moreover, it is proved that a compact shrinking Finslerian Ricci soliton has finite fundamental group and hence the first de Rham cohomology group vanishes.
We express invariants of Finsler manifolds in a geometrical way by means of using moving planes and their associated Jacobi curves, which are curves in a fixed homogeneous Grassmann manifold. Some applications are given.
In this paper, we prove that for every Finsler $n$-sphere $(S^n, F)$ for $n\ge 3$ with reversibility $λ$ and flag curvature $K$ satisfying $(\fracλ{λ+1})^2<K\le 1$, 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 $\exp(πi μ)$ with an irrational $μ$. Furthermore, there always exist three prime closed geodesics on any $(S^3, F)$ satisfying the above pinching condition.
In this paper, we prove that for every Finsler $n$-dimensional sphere $(S^{n},F)$ with reversibility $\lm$ and flag curvature $K$ satisfying $\left(\frac{\lm}{1+\lm}\right)^2<K\le 1$, either there exist infinitely many closed geodesics, or there exist at least two elliptic closed geodesics and each linearized Poincaré map has at least one eigenvalue of the form $e^{\sqrt{-1}þ}$ with $þ$ being an irrational multiple of $π$.
In this paper, we prove that on every Finsler $n$-sphere $(S^n, F)$ with reversibility $λ$ satisfying $F^2<(\frac{λ+1}λ)^2g_0$ and $l(S^n, F)\ge π(1+\frac{1}λ)$, there always exist at least $n$ prime closed geodesics without self-intersections, where $g_0$ is the standard Riemannian metric on $S^n$ with constant curvature 1 and $l(S^n, F)$ is the length of a shortest geodesic loop on $(S^n, F)$. We also study the stability of these closed geodesics.
We characterize the differentiable points of the distance function from a closed subset $N$ of an arbitrary dimensional Finsler manifold in terms of the number of $N$-segments. In the case of a 2-dimensional Finsler manifold, we prove the structure theorem of the cut locus of a closed subset $N$, namely that it is a local tree, it is made of countably many rectifiable Jordan arcs except for the endpoints of the cut locus and that an intrinsic metric can be introduced in the cut locus and its intrinsic and induced topologies coincide. We should point out that these are new results even for Riem…
In this paper, we prove that on every Finsler manifold $(M,\,F)$ with reversibility $λ$ and flag curvature $K$ satisfying $\left(\fracλ{λ+1}\right)^2<K\le 1$, there exist $[\frac{\dim M+1}{2}]$ closed geodesics. If the number of closed geodesics is finite, then there exist $[\frac{\dim M}{2}]$ non-hyperbolic closed geodesics. Moreover, there are 3 closed geodesics on $(M,\,F)$ satisfying the above pinching condition when $\dim M=3$.
In this paper, we explore the similarity between normal homogeneity and $δ$-homogeneity in Finsler geometry. They are both non-negatively curved Finsler spaces. We show that any connected $δ$-homogeneous Finsler space is $G$-$δ$-homo-geneous, for some suitably chosen connected quasi-compact $G$. So $δ$-homogeneous Finsler metrics can be defined by a bi-invariant singular metric on $G$ and submersion, just as normal homogeneous metrics, using a bi-invariant Finsler metric on $G$ instead. More careful analysis shows, in the space of all Finsler metrics on $G/H$, the subset of all $G$-$δ$-homogen…
A geodesic circle in Finsler geometry is a natural extension of that in a Euclidean space. In this paper, we apply Lie derivatives and the Cartan $Y$-connection to study geodesic circles and (infinitesimal) concircular transformations on a Finsler manifold. We characterize a concircular vector field with some PDEs on the tangent bundle, and then we obtain respective necessary and sufficient conditions for a concircular vector field to be conformal and a conformal vector field to be concircular. We also show conditions for two conformally related Finsler metrics to be concircular, and obtain so…
Horizontal endomorphisms, almost complex structures, vertical, horizontal and complete lifts on prolongation of a Lie algebroid are considered. Then using exact sequences, semisprays are constructed. Moreover, important geometrical objects such as classical distinguished connections, torsions and partial curvatures are studied on prolongation of Lie algebroids. Considering pullback bundle, covariant derivatives are scrutinized based on anchor map. Several Finsler geometry models on Lie algebroid structures, will organized via recent arguments. Finally, it will be overhaulled some special Finsl…
Studying various functionals and associated gradient ows are known problems in differential geometry. The perpose of this article is to provide a general overview of curvature functionals in Finsler geometry and use their information for introducing different gradient ows on Finsler manifolds.
Here, a non-linear analysis method is applied rather than classical one to study projective changes of Finsler metrics. More intuitively, a projectively invariant pseudo-distance is introduced and characterized with respect to the Ricci tensor and its covariant derivatives.
Let (M.F) be a complete Finsler manifold and P be a minimal and compact submanifold of M. Ric_k(x), x in M is a differential invariant that interpolates between the flag curvature and the Ricci curvature. We prove that if on any geodesic c(t) emanating orthogonally from P we have \int_{0}^{\infty}\mathbf{Ric}_{k}(t)>0, then M is compact.
In this paper we study the Finsler sphere $(S^n,F)$ with $n>1$, which has constant flag curvature $K\equiv 1$ and only finite prime closed geodesics. In this case, the connected isometry group $I_0(S^n,F)$ must be a torus which dimension satisfies $0<\dim I(S^n,F) \leq[\frac{n+1}{2}]$. We will prove that the number of geometrically distinct reversible closed geodesics on $(S^n,F)$ is at least $\dim I(S^n,F)$. When $\dim I_0(S^n,F)=[\frac{n+1}{2}]$, the equality happens, and there are exactly $2[\frac{n+1}{2}]$ prime closed geodesics, which verifies Anosov conjecture in this special case.
The aim of this paper is to develop on the 1-jet space J^1(R,M^3) the Finsler-like geometry (in the sense of distinguished (d-) connection, d-torsions and d-curvatures) of the rheonomic Berwald-Moor metric of order three. Some natural geometrical field theories (gravitational and electromagnetic) produced by the preceding rheonomic Berwald-Moor metric of order three are also exposed.
In this paper, we identify the Bott connection on the natural foliation of the projective sphere bundle of a Finsler manifold to the Chern connection of this manifold. As a consequence, the symmetrization of the Bott connection turns out to be the Cartan connection of the Finsler manifold. Following Liu-Zhang \cite{LiuZ}, the Cartan connection can also be obtained through an adiabatic limit process. Furthermore, a Chern-Simons type form is defined and its conformal properties are discussed.
The paper develops the Finsler-like geometry on the 1-jet space for the jet conformal Minkowski (JCM) metric, which naturally extends the Minkowski metric in the Chernov-Pavlov framework. To this aim there are determined the nonlinear connection, distinguished (d-) Cartan linear connection, d-torsions and d-curvatures. The field geometrical gravitational and electromagnetic d-models based on the JCM metric are discussed.
We show how to compute tensor derivatives and curvature tensors using affine connections. This allows for all computations to be obtained without using coordinate systems, in a way that parallels the computations appearing in classical Riemannian Geometry. In particular, we obtain Bianchi identities for the curvature tensor of any anisotropic connection, we compare the curvature tensors of any two anisotropic connections, and we find a family of anisotropic connections which are well suited to study the geometry of Finsler metrics.
The aim of this article is to establish a Toponogov type triangle comparison theorem for Finsler manifolds, in the manner of radial curvature geometry. We consider the situation that the radial flag curvature is bounded below by the radial curvature function of a non-compact surface of revolution, the edge opposite to the base point is contained in a Berwald-like region, and that the Finsler metric is convex enough in the radial directions in that region.
Here, by extending the definition of circle to Finsler geometry, we show that, every circle-preserving local diffeomorphism is conformal. This result implies that in Finsler geometry, the definition of concircular change of metrics, a priori, does not require the conformal assumption.
In every conformal class of Finsler (or Riemannian) metrics on a closed manifold there exists a residual subset of Finsler metrics, such that, with respect to the residual Finsler metrics, in any non-trivial homotopy class of free loops there is precisely one shortest geodesic loop.
In this paper we prove several multiplicity results of $t$-periodic light rays in conformally stationary spacetimes using the Fermat metric and the extensions of the classical theorems of Gromoll-Meyer and Bangert-Hingston to Finsler manifolds. Moreover, we exhibit some stationary spacetimes with a finite number of $t$-periodic light rays and compute a lower bound for the period of the light rays when the flag curvature of the Fermat metric is $η$-pinched.
Using a navigation process with the datum $(F,V)$, in which $F$ is a Finsler metric and the smooth tangent vector field $V$ satisfies $F(-V(x))>1$ everywhere, a Lorentz Finsler metric $\tilde{F}$ can be induced. Isoparametric functions and isoparametric hypersurfaces with or without involving a smooth measure can be defined for $\tilde{F}$. When the vector field $V$ in the navigation datum is homothetic, we prove the local correspondences between isoparametric functions and isoparametric hypersurfaces before and after this navigation process. Using these correspondences, we provide some exampl…
