Tangent bundle and indicatrix bundle of a Finsler manifold (Q936524): Difference between revisions

Let \((M,F)\) be a Finsler manifold. The metric tensor arising from the Finsler function may be extended to a Riemannian metric \(G\) on the slit tangent bundle \(\circ{T}M\), using the horizontal distribution determined by the Finsler structure. \(G\) is called the Sasaki-Finsler metric on \(\circ{T}M\). From the Levi-Civita connection of \((\circ{T}M,G)\) a further important linear connection may be constructed, discovered by G. Vrănceanu, and described intrinsically by S. Ianus. It is shown that the curvature of \((\circ{T}M,G)\) is completely determined by the curvature of the Vrănceanu connection and some adapted tensor fields on \(\circ{T}M\), determined quite immediately by the Finsler structure. Using a new characterization of Riemannian manifolds in Finslerian terms and a well-known result of O. Kowalski, the author shows that \((\circ{T}M,G)\) is locally symmetric, if and only if, \((M,F)\) is locally Euclidean. This theorem has already been stated by \textit{B. Y. Wu} [Publ. Math. 71, No.~1--2, 185--193 (2007; Zbl 1164.53024)], but his proof has some mistakes.) It is also proved that the flag curvature of \((M,F)\) is determined by some curvatures of the Riemannian manifold \((\circ{T}M,G)\). The author introduces the concept of a \(c\)-indicatrix bundle (where \(c\) is a nonzero real number) and utilizes it in a simple new characterization of Finsler manifolds of constant flag curvature \(c\). To sum up, it can be stated that the paper gives a new and deep insight into the geometry of the tangent bundle, using Finslerian terms.