Maximum length of steepest descent curves for quasi-convex functions (Q757843): Difference between revisions

This nice and interesting paper deals with the class \(\Gamma\) of oriented rectifiable curves \(\gamma\) in \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\) (n\(\geq 2)\) starting in a point \(x_ 0\) and such that, for every \(x\in \gamma\) with tangent line, the arc \(x_ 0x\) is contained in one of the half spaces bounded by the hyperplane through x orthogonal to \(\gamma\). If f is a convex function in an open convex set \(K\subset {\mathbb{R}}^ n\), then the level sets \(\{\) \(x\in K:\) \(f(x)<t\}\) are convex and the trajectories orthogonal to these sets (steepest descent curves) belong to the class \(\Gamma\). The authors prove that the curves of \(\Gamma\) contained in a compact set have an a priori bounded length and the bound can be obtained depending on the diameter or the mean width of the convex hull of the curve. In the plane, in the family of curves of \(\Gamma\) with convex hull of given perimeter, there exist curves of maximal length and they are evolutes of themselves.