Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 2309.03489

Sub-Finsler geometry and nonholonomic mechanics

Abstract

We discuss a variational approach to the length functional and its relation to sub-Hamiltonian equations on sub-Finsler manifolds. Then, we introduce the notion of the nonholonomic sub-Finslerian structure and prove that the distributions are geodesically invariant concerning the Barthel non-linear connection. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of the curves that are abnormal extremals; likewise, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for normal extremals to be the motion of a free nonholonomic mechanical system, and vice versa. Moreover, we show that a coordinate-free approach for a free particle is a comparison between the solutions of the nonholonomic mechanical problem and the solutions of the Vakonomic dynamical problem for the nonholonomic sub-Finslerian structure. In addition, we provide an example of the nonholonomic sub-Finslerian structure. Finally, we show that the sub-Laplacian measures the curvature of the nonholonomic sub-Finslerian structure.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Layth M. Alabdulsada. 2023-09-07. Sub-Finsler geometry and nonholonomic mechanics. https://doi.org/10.1216/rmj.2025.55.597

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

The $q$-deformed cross-ratio: modular invariants and Coxeter friezes

We introduce and study a scalar $q$-deformation of the cross-ratio on $\mathbb P^1(\mathbb Q)$. Our construction is based on the notion of $q$-deformed rational numbers due to Morier-Genoud and the author. The $q$-cross-ratio is invariant under $\mathrm{PSL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$, while elements of determinant $-1$ of $\mathrm{PGL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$ act by $q\mapsto q^{-1}$. A principal result is its relation to $q$-deformed Coxeter friezes associated with rational polygons. The expansion at $q=e^h$ yields an algebraically independent sequence of modular invariants and relative invariants, although this sequence does not separate modular orbits. We compute the first two nonconstant coefficients of this expansion explicitly.

math.DG

The Cartan-Hadamard conjecture in dimension five

We show that the sharp Euclidean isoperimetric inequality holds for domains in complete simply connected Riemannian $5$-manifolds of nonpositive sectional curvature, which establishes the Cartan-Hadamard conjecture in that dimension. The main step is a sharp inequality for constant-mean-curvature hypersurfaces, proved via integrals over pairs of boundary points, in the spirit of Banchoff-Pohl, together with an estimate for Jacobi fields along geodesic chords. The inequality persists for boundaries of isoperimetric regions in geodesic balls, whose mean curvature is constant only on the free part. An isoperimetric-profile argument, after Kleiner, completes the proof. Our method also gives a new proof in dimension $3$.

math.DG

On static manifolds with boundary admitting a nowhere-vanishing static potential

We study complete static manifolds with boundary admitting a nowhere-vanishing static potential. Our main result shows that, under a natural lower bound relating the scalar curvature and the boundary mean curvature, a simple static manifold with boundary must in fact have positive scalar curvature, negative boundary mean curvature, and be compact; we also obtain explicit relations and estimates involving the volume of the manifold and the geometry of its boundary. In the scalar-flat case, we prove global splitting and Ricci-flat rigidity results, including for disconnected boundary, while in the negative scalar curvature case we establish a sharp mean-curvature bound and characterize the equality case by an exponential warped-product structure. The proofs rely essentially on the study of the associated Einstein manifold. In appendix we derive several identities for static manifolds with boundary and discuss the associated Einstein manifold technique in the boundaryless setting.

math.DG