English

The duality between singular points and inflection points on wave fronts

Differential Geometry 2010-05-12 v6

Abstract

In the previous paper (arXiv:0804.0701), the authors gave criteria for A_{k+1}-type singularities on wave fronts. Using them, we show in this paper that there is a duality between singular points and inflection points on wave fronts in the projective space. As an application, we show that the algebraic sum of 2-inflection points (i.e. godron points) on an immersed surface in the real projective space is equal to the Euler number of M_-. Here M^2 is a compact orientable 2-manifold, and M_-$is the open subset of M^2 where the Hessian of f takes negative values. This is a generalization of Bleecker and Wilson's formula for immersed surfaces in the affine 3-space.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0902.0649,
  title  = {The duality between singular points and inflection points on wave fronts},
  author = {Kentaro Saji and Masaaki Umehara and Kotaro Yamada},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0902.0649},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

12 pages, one figure; to appear in Osaka Journal of Mathematics

R2 v1 2026-06-21T12:07:46.403Z