English

The Euler-Lagrange PDE and Finsler metrizability

Differential Geometry 2007-05-23 v1

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the following question: under what conditions can a second-order homogeneous ordinary differential equation (spray) be the geodesic equation of a Finsler space. We show that the Euler-Lagrange partial differential system on the energy function can be reduced to a first order system on this same function. In this way we are able to give effective necessary and sufficient conditions for the local existence of a such Finsler metric in terms of the holonomy algebra generated by horizontal vector-fields. We also consider the Landsberg metrizability problem and prove similar results. This reduction is a significant step in solving the problem whether or not there exists a non-Berwald Landsberg space.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0602383,
  title  = {The Euler-Lagrange PDE and Finsler metrizability},
  author = {Zoltan Muzsnay},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0602383},
  year   = {2007}
}

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20 pages