The total absolute curvature of nonclosed curves in \(S^2\) (Q1885226): Difference between revisions

The total absolute curvature \(\tau(\Sigma)\) of a \(C^2\)-curve \(\Sigma\) on the 2-dimensional unit sphere \(S^2\) is defined as the total integral of the absolute value of the geodesic curvature of \(\Sigma\). In case that \(\Sigma\) is only piecewise \(C^2\) the sum of the exterior angles of the tangent vectors at points where \(\Sigma\) is not 2-times differentiable, is added to define \(\tau(\Sigma)\). In the paper the authors try to determine the infimum of \(\tau(\Sigma)\) in the following two cases: a) \(\Sigma\) is a nonclosed curve with fixed boundary data (fixed endpoints \(p\) and \(q\) and fixed tangent vectors \(X\) and \(Y\) in \(p\) and \(q\)). b) \(\Sigma\) is a nonclosed curve with fixed boundary data (see (a)) and moreover has a fixed arclength \(L\). In case (a) the infimum of \(\tau(\Sigma)\) is the absolute of the angle between the two great circle arcs, one determined by \(p, X\) and the other by \(q, Y\). In case (b) it is more complicated to find the infimum. Here the authors can give a result only under some additional assumptions. For Part II, cf. ibid. 45, No. 3-4, 230--240 (2004; Zbl 1065.53003).