Curves of constant width in the non-Euclidean geometry (Q2581054): Difference between revisions

In this paper curves of constant width on the 2-sphere \(S\) and in the hyperbolic plane \(H\) are studied. A closed convex curve \(C\) on \(S\) or in \(H\) is of constant width \(b\) if its supporting strip region \(T_C(\varphi)\) has the same width \(b\) for any direction \(\varphi\). Here a strip region is defined as a region on \(S\) or \(H\) bounded by two curves which have constant distance from a given geodesic line. The author shows that any curve \(C\) of constant width on \(S\) or in \(H\) has the property of being self-parallel and vice versa. The counterparts of some well-known theorems of Euclidean curves of constant width are proven. If \(C\) is a curve of constant width \(b\) in \(S\) and \(L\), \(J\) denote its perimeter and total curvature, respectively, then \(L = J \tan(\frac{b}{2})\). In case of \(C\) being a curve of constant width in the hyperbolic plane \(H\), one has to replace the tan-function by the tanh-function in this formula. Lebesgue's theorem can be transferred to the non-Euclidean case: If \(F\) denotes the area enclosed by a closed curve \(C\) of constant width \(b\) on \(S\) then \(F \leq 2\pi (1 - \cos(\frac{b}{2}))\). In case of a curve of constant width in \(H\) one obtains \(F \leq 2\pi (\cosh(\frac{b}{2})-1)\). In both cases the maximal value is achieved if and only if \(C\) is a circle of radius \(\frac{b}{2}\). Moreover the function \(F\) attains its minimal value if and only if \(C\) is a Reuleaux triangle on \(S\) or in \(H\).