Simple Closed Quasigeodesics on Tetrahedra
Abstract
Pogorelov proved in 1949 that every every convex polyhedron has at least three simple closed quasigeodesics. Whereas a geodesic has exactly pi surface angle to either side at each point, a quasigeodesic has at most pi surface angle to either side at each point. Pogorelov's existence proof did not suggest a way to identify the three quasigeodesics, and it is only recently that a finite algorithm has been proposed. Here we identify three simple closed quasigeodesics on any tetrahedron: at least one through 1 vertex, at least one through 2 vertices, and at least one through 3 vertices. The only exception is that isosceles tetrahedra have simple closed geodesics but do not have a 1-vertex quasigeodesic. We also identify an infinite class of tetrahedra that each have at least 34 simple closed quasigeodesics.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2203.04745,
title = {Simple Closed Quasigeodesics on Tetrahedra},
author = {Joseph O'Rourke and Costin Vilcu},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.04745},
year = {2022}
}
Comments
34 pages, 17 figures, 16 references. Incorporates arXiv:2109.07444 in Section 5