Invariant higher-order variational problems

Abstract

We investigate higher-order geometric $k$-splines for template matching on Lie groups. This is motivated by the need to apply diffeomorphic template matching to a series of images, e.g., in longitudinal studies of Computational Anatomy. Our approach formulates Euler-Poincaré theory in higher-order tangent spaces on Lie groups. In particular, we develop the Euler-Poincaré formalism for higher-order variational problems that are invariant under Lie group transformations. The theory is then applied to higher-order template matching and the corresponding curves on the Lie group of transformations are shown to satisfy higher-order Euler-Poincaré equations. The example of SO(3) for template matching on the sphere is presented explicitly. Various cotangent bundle momentum maps emerge naturally that help organize the formulas. We also present Hamiltonian and Hamilton-Ostrogradsky Lie-Poisson formulations of the higher-order Euler-Poincaré theory for applications on the Hamiltonian side.