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 Finsler-metrizability and projective Finsler-metrizability of a spray. We present new proofs for such classical results as the Berwald - del Castillo - Szabó theorem on isotropic Finsler manifolds, the Finslerian Schur lemma, and the uniqueness of the Berwald connection of a Finsler manifold.
In this paper we characterize sprays that are metrizable by Finsler functions of constant flag curvature. By solving a particular case of the Finsler metrizability problem we provide the necessary and sufficient conditions that can be used to decide whether or not a given homogeneous system of second order ordinary differential equations represents the Euler-Lagrange equations of a Finsler function of constant flag curvature. The conditions we provide are tensorial equations on the Jacobi endomorphism. We identify the class of homogeneous SODE where the Finsler metrizability is equivalent with…
For a $2$-dimensional non-flat spray we associate a Berwald frame and a $3$-dimensional distribution that we call the Berwald distribution. The Frobenius integrability of the Berwald distribution characterises the Finsler metrizability of the given spray. In the integrable case, the sought after Finsler function is provided by a closed, homogeneous $1$-form from the annihilator of the Berwald distribution. We discuss both the degenerate and non-degenerate cases using the fact that the regularity of the Finsler function is encoded into a regularity condition of a $2$-form, canonically associate…
In 2001, Zhongmin Shen asked if it is possible for two projectively related Finsler metrics to have the same Riemann curvature tensor, [14, page 184]. In this paper, we provide an answer to this question, within the class of Finsler metrics of scalar flag curvature. In Theorem 3.1, we show that the answer is negative, for non-vanishing scalar flag curvature. The answer is known to be positive when the scalar flag curvature vanishes, [12, 14] and this positive answer is related to the existence of many solutions to Hilbert's Fourth Problem. As a generalisation of this problem, we can ask if it …
Every Finsler metric naturally induces a spray but not so for the converse. The notion for sprays of scalar (resp. isotropic) curvature has been known as a generalization for Finsler metrics of scalar (resp. isotropic) flag curvature. In this paper, a new notion, sprays of constant curvature, is introduced and especially it shows that a spray of isotropic curvature is not necessarily of constant curvature even in dimension $n\ge3$. Further, complete conditions are given for sprays of isotropic (resp. constant) curvature to be Finsler-metrizabile. As applications of such a result, the local str…
In his book "Differential Geometry of Spray and Finsler spaces", page 177, Zhongmin Shen asks "wether or not there always exist non-trivial Funk functions on a spray space". In this note, we will prove that the answer is negative for the geodesic spray of a finslerian function of non-vanishing scalar flag curvature.
In the previous work, the notion of the Finsleroid--Finsler space have been formulated and the necessary and sufficient conditions for the space to be of the Landsberg type have been found. In the present paper, starting with particular spray coefficients, we demonstrate how the Landsberg condition can explicitly appear in case of the Finsleroid--type metric function. Calculations are supplementing by a convenient special Maple--program. The general form of the associated geodesic spray coefficients is presented for such metric function under the condition of constancy of the Finsleroid charge…
A Finsler function $F$ is affinely rigid if its canonical spray is uniquely metrizable, in the sense that if $\bar F$ is another Finsler function whose canonical spray is $S$, then $d(F/\bar F)=0$. In this short note we explore some sufficient conditions for a Finsler function to be affinely rigid, and discuss open problems.
In this paper, we consider projective deformation of the geodesic system of Finsler spaces by holonomy invariant functions: Starting by a Finsler spray $S$ and a holonomy invariant function $P$, we investigate the metrizability property of the projective deformation $\widetilde{S}=S-2λP C$. We prove that for any holonomy invariant nontrivial function $P$ and for almost every value $λ\in R$, such deformation is not Finsler metrizable. We identify the cases where such deformation can lead to a metrizable spray: in these cases, the holonomy invariant function is necessarily one of the principal c…
The projective Finsler metrizability problem deals with the question whether a projective-equivalence class of sprays is the geodesic class of a (locally or globally defined) Finsler function. In this paper we use Hilbert-type forms to state a number of different ways of specifying necessary and sufficient conditions for this to be the case, and we show that they are equivalent. We also address several related issues of interest including path spaces, Jacobi fields, totally-geodesic submanifolds of a spray space, and the equivalence of path geometries and projective-equivalence classes of spra…
Geodesics, which play an important role in spray-Finsler geometry, are integral curves of a spray vector field on a manifold. Some comparison theorems and rigidity issues are established on the completeness of geodesics of a spray or a Finsler metric. In this paper, projectively flat sprays with weak Ricci constant (eps. constant curvature) are classified at the level of geodesics. Further, a geodesic method is introduced to determine an $n$-dimensional spray based on a family of curves with $2(n-1)$ free constant parameters as geodesics. Finally, it shows that a spray is projectively complete…
It is well known that a system of homogeneous second-order ordinary differential equations (spray) is necessarily isotropic in order to be metrizable by a Finsler function of scalar flag curvature. In Theorem 3.1 we show that the isotropy condition, together with three other conditions on the Jacobi endomorphism, characterize sprays that are metrizable by Finsler functions of scalar flag curvature. The proof of Theorem 3.1 provides an algorithm to construct the Finsler function of scalar flag curvature, in the case when a given spray is metrizable. One condition of Theorem 3.1, regarding the r…
We use the technique of invariant frames to study a left invariant spray structure on a Lie group, and calculate its S-curvature and Riemann curvature, which generalizes the corresponding formulae in homogeneous Finsler geometry. Using the canonical bi-invariant Berwald spray structure as the reference, any left invariant spray structure can be associated with a spray vector field on the Lie algebra. We find the correspondence between geodesics for a left invariant spray structure and the inverse integral curves of its spray vector field. As an application for this correspondence, we provide a…
It is still a long-standing open problem in Finsler geometry, is there any regular Landsberg metric which is not Berwaldian. However, there are non-regular Landsberg metrics which are not Berwladian. The known examples are established by G. S. Asanov and Z. Shen. In this paper, we use the Maple program to study some explicit examples of non-Berwaldian Landsberg metrics. In fact, such kinds of examples are very tedious and complicated to investigate. Nonetheless, we use the maple program and Finsler packages to simplify the calculations in an elegant way. Depending on these examples, we manage …
We introduce the submersion between two spray structures and propose the submersion technique in spray geometry. Using this technique, as well as global invariant frames on a Lie group, we setup the general theoretical framework for homogeneous spray geometry. We define the spray vector field $η$ and the connection operator $N$ for a homogeneous spray manifold $(G/H,\mathbf{G})$ with a linear decomposition $\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{h}+\mathfrak{m}$. These notions generalize their counter parts in homogeneous Finsler geometry. We prove the correspondence between $\mathbf{G}$ and $η$ when the give…
Every Riemannian metric or Finsler metric on a manifold induces a spray via its geodesics. In this paper, we discuss several expressions for the X-curvature of a spray. We show that the sprays obtained by a projective deformation using the S-curvature always have vanishing X-curvature. Then we establish the Beltrami Theorem for sprays with X=0
In this work we show that for the geodesic spray $S$ of a Finsler function $F$ the most natural projective deformation $\widetilde{S}=S -2 λF\mathbb C$ leads to a non-Finsler metrizable spray, for almost every value of $λ\in \mathbb R$. This result shows how rigid is the metrizablility property with respect to certain reparameterizations of the geodesics. As a consequence we obtain that the projective class of an arbitrary spray contains infinitely many sprays that are not Finsler metrizable.
By performing required evaluations, we show that in the Finsleroid-regular space the Landsberg-space condition just degenerates to the Berwald-space condition (at any dimension number $N\ge2$). Simple and clear expository representations are obtained. Due comparisons with the Finsleroid-Finsler space are indicated. Keywords: Finsler metrics, spray coefficients, curvature tensors.
In this paper we study the invariant metrizability and projective metrizability problems for the special case of the geodesic spray associated to the canonical connection of a Lie group. We prove that such canonical spray is projectively Finsler metrizable if and only if it is Riemann metrizable. This result means that this structure is rigid in the sense that considering left-invariant metrics, the potentially much larger class of projective Finsler metrizable canonical sprays, corresponding to Lie groups, coincides with the class of Riemann metrizable canonical sprays. Generalisation of thes…
The notion of the Ricci curvature is defined for sprays on a manifold. With a volume form on a manifold, every spray can be deformed to a projective spray. The Ricci curvature of a projective spray is called the projective Ricci curvature. In this paper, we introduce the notion of projectively Ricci-flat sprays. We establish a global rigidity result for projectively Ricci-flat sprays with nonnegative Ricci curvature. Then we study and characterize projectively Ricci-flat Randers metrics.
We give a new and complete proof of the following theorem, discovered by Detlef Laugwitz: (forward) complete and connected finite dimensional Finsler manifolds admitting a proper homothety are Minkowski vector spaces. More precisely, we show that under these hypotheses the Finsler manifold is isometric to the tangent Minkowski vector space of the fixed point of the homothety via the exponential map of the canonical spray of the Finsler manifold.
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.
Applying concepts and tools from classical tangent bundle geometry and using the apparatus of the calculus along the tangent bundle projection ('pull-back formalism'), first we enrich the known lists of the characterizations of affine vector fields on a spray manifold and conformal vector fields on a Finsler manifold. Second, we deduce consequences on vector fields on the underlying manifold of a Finsler structure having one or two of the mentioned geometric properties.
The Finsleroid--Finsler space becomes regular when the norm $||b||=c$ of the input 1-form $b$ is taken to be an arbitrary positive scalar $c(x) < 1$. By performing required direct evaluations, the respective spray coefficients have been obtained in a simple and transparent form. The adequate continuation into the regular pseudo-Finsleroid domain has been indicated. The Finsleroid-regular Berwald space is found under the assumptions that the Finsleroid charge is a constant and the 1-form $b$ is parallel. Keywords: Finsler metrics, spray coefficients, curvature tensors.
The projective metrizability problem can be formulated as follows: under what conditions the geodesics of a given spray coincide with the geodesics of some Finsler space, as oriented curves. In Theorem 3.8 we reformulate the projective metrizability problem for a spray in terms of a first-order partial differential operator $P_1$ and a set of algebraic conditions on semi-basic 1-forms. We discuss the formal integrability of $P_1$ using two sufficient conditions provided by Cartan-Kähler theorem. We prove in Theorem 4.2 that the symbol of $P_1$ is involutive and hence one of the two conditions …
We show that in dimension 2 every Finsler metric with at least 3-dimensional Lie algebra of projective vector fields is locally projectively equivalent to a Randers metric. We give a short list of such Finsler metrics which is complete up to coordinate change and projective equivalence.
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.
A projective parameter of a geodesic on a Finsler space is defined to be solution of a certain ODE. Using projective parameter and Funk metric, one can construct a projectively invariant intrinsic pseudo-distance on a Finsler space. In the present work, solutions of the projective parameter's ODE are characterized with respect to the sign of parallel Ricci tensor of a Finsler space. It is shown that the pseudo-distance is trivial on complete Finsler spaces of positive semi-definite Ricci tensor and it is a distance on Finsler spaces of parallel negative definite Ricci tensor. These results gen…
We define a Weyl-type curvature tensor of $(1,2)$-type to provide a characterization for Finsler metrics of constant flag curvature. This Weyl-type curvature tensor is projective invariant only to projective factors that are Hamel functions. Based on this aspect we construct new families of projectively related Finsler metrics that have constant flag curvature.
We investigate projective spherically symmetric Finsler metrics with constant flag curvature in $R^n$ and give the complete classification theorems. Furthermore, a new class of Finsler metrics with two parameters on n-dimensional disk are found to have constant negative flag curvature.
We define systems of pre-extremals for the energy functional of regular rheonomic Lagrange manifolds and show how they induce well-defined Hamilton orthogonal nets. Such nets have applications in the modelling of e.g. wildfire spread under time- and space-dependent conditions. The time function inherited from such a Hamilton net induces in turn a time-independent Finsler metric - we call it the associated frozen metric. It is simply obtained by inserting the time function from the net into the given Lagrangean. The energy pre-extremals then become ordinary Finsler geodesics of the frozen metri…
In this paper, we study the left invariant spray geometry on a connected Lie group. Using the technique of invariant frames, we find the ordinary differential equations on the Lie algebra describing for a left invariant spray structure the linearly parallel translations along a geodesic and the nonlinearly parallel translations along a smooth curve. In these equations, the connection operator plays an important role. Using linearly parallel translations, we provide alternative interpretations or proofs for some homogeneous curvature formulae. Concerning the nonlinearly ones, we propose two que…
We show that the infinite-dimensional space of Zoll Finsler metrics on the projective plane strongly deformation retracts to the canonical round metric. In particular, this space of Zoll Finsler metrics is connected. Moreover, the strong deformation retraction arises from a deformation of the geodesic flow of every Zoll Finsler projective plane to the geodesic flow of the round metric through a family of smooth free circle actions induced by the curvature flow of the canonical round projective plane. This construction provides a description of the geodesics of the Zoll Finsler metrics along th…
We define a Weyl-type curvature tensor that provides a characterisation for Finsler metrics of constant flag curvature. When the Finsler metric reduces to a Riemannian metric, the Weyl-type curvature tensor reduces to the classic projective Weyl tensor. In the general case, the Weyl-type curvature tensor differs from the Weyl projective curvature, it is not a projective invariant, and hence Beltrami Theorem does not work in Finsler geometry. We provide the relation between the Weyl-type curvature tensors of two projectively related Finsler metrics. Using this formula we show that a projective …
In this paper we prove that the holonomy group of a simply connected locally projectively flat Finsler manifold of constant curvature is a finite dimensional Lie group if and only if it is flat or it is Riemannian.
In this paper, we find the necessary and sufficient conditions under which two classes of (q, a, b)-metrics are projectively related to a Kropina metric.
In this paper the projective curvature invariants of a complex Finsler space are obtained. By means of these invariants the notion of complex Douglas space is then defined. A special approach is devoted to obtain the equivalence conditions that a complex Finsler space should be Douglas. It is shown that any weakly Kähler Douglas space is a complex Berwald space. A projective curvature invariant of Weyl type characterizes the complex Berwald spaces. They must be either purely Hermitian of constant holomorphic curvature or non purely Hermitian of vanish holomorphic curvature. The locally project…
We proof that on a surface of negative Euler characteristic, two real-analytic Finsler metrics have the same unparametrized oriented geodesics, if and only if they differ by a scaling constant and addition of a closed 1-form.
Recently, we developed a method for the study of holonomy properties of non-Riemannian Finsler manifolds and obtained that the holonomy group can not be a compact Lie group, if the Finsler manifold of dimension $> 2$ has non-zero constant flag curvature. The purpose of this paper is to move further, exploring the holonomy properties of projectively flat Finsler manifolds of non-zero constant flag curvature. We prove in particular that projectively flat Randers and Bryant-Shen manifolds of non-zero constant flag curvature have infinite dimensional holonomy group.
This paper is concerned with the problem of determining whether a projective-equivalence class of sprays is the geodesic class of a Finsler function. We address both the local and the global aspects of this problem. We present our results entirely in terms of a multiplier, that is, a type (0,2) tensor field along the tangent bundle projection. In the course of the analysis we consider several related issues of interest including the positivity and strong convexity of positively-homogeneous functions, the relation to the so-called Rapcsák conditions, some peculiarities of the two-dimensional ca…
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.
In this paper, we introduce the weighted projective Ricci curvature as an extension of projective Ricci curvature introduced by Z. Shen. We characterize the class of Randers metrics of weighted projective Ricci flat curvature. We find the necessary and sufficient condition under which a Kropina metric has weighted projective Ricci flat curvature. Finally, we show that every projectively flat metric with isotropic weighted projective Ricci and isotropic S-curvature is a Kropina metric or Randers metric.
The Finsleroid-Finsler space is constructed over an underlying Riemannian space by the help of a scalar $g(x)$ and an input 1-form $b$ of unit length. Explicit form of the entailed tensors, as well as the respective spray coefficients, is evaluated. The involutive case means the framework in which the characteristic scalar $g(x)$ may vary in the direction assigned by $b$, such that $dg=μb$ with a scalar $μ(x)$. We show by required calculation that the involutive case realizes through the $A$-special relation the picture that instead of the Landsberg condition $\dot A_{ijk}=0$ we have the vanis…
We consider the projective Finsler metrizability problem: under what conditions the solutions of a given system of second-order ordinary differential equations (SODE) coincide with the geodesics of a Finsler metric, as oriented curves. SODEs with isotropic curvature have already been thoroughly studied in the literature and have proved to be projective Finsler metrizable. In this paper, we investigate the non-isotropic case and obtain new results by examining the integrability of the Rapcsák system extended with curvature conditions. We consider the $n$-dimensional generic case, where the eige…
An $(α,β)$-manifold $(M,F)$ is a Finsler manifold with the Finsler metric $F$ being defined by a Riemannian metric $α$ and $1$-form $β$ on the manifold $M$. In this paper, we classify $n$-dimensional $(α,β)$-manifolds (non-Randers type) which are positively complete and locally projectively flat. We show that the non-trivial class is that $M$ is homeomorphic to the $n$-sphere $S^n$ and $(S^n,F)$ is projectively related to a standard spherical Riemannian manifold, and then we obtain some special geometric properties on the geodesics and scalar flag curvature of $F$ on $S^n$, especially when $F$…
In this paper, we study left invariant conic Finsler metrics on the 2-dimensional non-Abelian Lie group $G$ with nowhere vanishing spray vector fields, and classify those satisfying the constant curvature condition, the Landsberg condition or the Berwald condition respectively. We prove that any left invariant conic Landsberg metric on $G$ must be Berwald. This discovery enable us to propose a homogeneous conic Landsberg Conjecture, which guesses that every homogeneous conic Landsberg metric is Berwald, and prove the 2-dimensional case for it.
In this paper, we study a class of two-dimensional Finsler metrics defined by a Riemannian metric $α$ and a 1-form $β$. We characterize those metrics which are Douglasian or locally projectively flat by some equations. In particular, it shows that the known fact that $β$ is always closed for those metrics in higher dimensions is no longer true in two dimensional case. Further, we determine the local structures of two-dimensional $(α,β)$-metrics which are Douglassian, and some families of examples are given for projectively flat classes with $β$ being not closed.
In this paper, we give the general form of spherically symmetric Finsler metrics in $R^n$ and surprisedly find that many well-known Finsler metrics belong to this class. Then we explicitly express projective metrics of this type. The necessary and sufficient conditions that projective Finsler metrics with spherical symmetry have constant flag curvature are also obtained.
In the present paper, we find the conditions to characterize projective change between two $(α, β)$-metrics, F = $α+ εβ+ k\frac{β^2}α$ ($ε$ and k $\neq$ 0 are constants) and a Matsumoto metric $\bar{F}=\frac{\barα^2}{\barα -\barβ}$ on a manifold with dimension $n \geq 3$ where $α$ and $\barα$ are two Riemannian metrics, $β$ and $\barβ$ are two non-zero 1-forms. Moreover, we study such projective changes when F has some special curvature properties.
In this paper, we consider Randers change of some special $ (α, β)- $ metrics. First we find the fundamental metric tensor and Cartan tensor of these Randers changed $ (α, β)- $metrics. Next, we establish a general formula for inverse of fundamental metric tensors of these metrics. Finally, we find the necessary and sufficient conditions under which the Randers change of these $ (α, β)- $ metrics are projectively and locally dually flat.
Singular Finsler metrics, such as Kropina metrics and $m$-Kropina metrics, have a lot of applications in the real world. In this paper, we study a class of two-dimensional singular Finsler metrics defined by a Riemann metric $α$ and 1-form $β$, and we characterize those which are Douglasian or locally projectively flat by some equations. It shows that the main class induced is an $m$-Kropina metric plus a linear part on $β$. For this class, the local structure of Douglasian or (in part) projectively flat case is determined, and in particular we show that a Kropina metric is always Douglasian a…
In this paper, as an application of the inverse problem of calculus of variations, we investigate two compatibility conditions on the spherically symmetric Finsler metrics. By making use of these conditions, we focus our attention on the Landsberg spherically symmetric Finsler metrics. We classify all spherically symmetric manifolds of Landsberg or Berwald types. For the higher dimensions $n\geq 3$, we prove that: all Landsberg spherically symmetric manifolds are either Riemannian or their geodesic sprays have a specific formula; all regular Landsberg spherically symmetric metrics are Riemanni…
