Zermelo navigation on Riemannian manifolds (Q1767410): Difference between revisions

\textit{E. Zermelo}'s navigation problem [Z. Angew. Math. Mech. 11, 114--124 (1931; Zbl 0001.34101; JFM 57.0603.02) was to find the shortest travel time in a Riemannian manifold \((M,h)\) under the influence of a current (or wind) with velocity \(W\); \(h(W,W)<1\). The authors point out that the solutions are the geodesics of a Randers space \((M,F)\) (a special Finsler space) determined by \(h\) and \(W\), and conversely, every Randers metric arises from such a problem. The main goal of the authors is to set up a complete list up to local isometry of strongly convex Randers metrics of constant (Finslerian) flag curvature via Zermelo navigation. This problem was already considered by the first two authors [Rep. Math. Phys. 51, 9--42 (2003; Zbl 1048.53054)], and also by \textit{M. Matsumoto} and \textit{H. Shimada} [Tensor 62, 9--42 (2002)], \textit{A. Bejancu} and \textit{H. Faran} [Int. J. Math. Math. Sci. 2003, No. 18, 1155--1165 (2003; Zbl 1031.53104)], and others. Now it is rather the underlying geometry that is emphasized and illuminated. It is proved that a Randers space \((M,F)\) has constant flag curvature \(K\) iff \(h\) has constant sectional curvature \(K+\frac 1{16}\sigma^2\), and \(\mathcal L_Wh=-\sigma h\) (\(W\) is an infinitesimal homothety of \(h\)). The resulting Finsler metrics are categorized into three subsections, depending on the sign of their flag curvature. Then the formulae of all infinitesimal homotheties \(W\) of the three standard Riemannian space forms \(h\) are worked out. With this list in hand the classification of strongly convex Randers metrics of constant flag curvature, both local and global, is given. \(W_1\) and \(W_2\) are called equivalent: \(W_1\simeq W_2\), if the Randers spaces defined by them and \(h\) on the maximal domains \(D_1\) and \(D_2\), where \(h(W,W)<1\), are globally isometric. Each equivalence class is called a moduli space \(\mathcal M_K\). These \(\mathcal M_K\) are parametrized, and their dimension is determined. In the last three sections, projectively flat Randers metrics of constant flag curvature [see \textit{Z. Shen}, Math. Ann. 325, 19--30 (2003; Zbl 1027.53096)], an important specialization \((\theta=0)\), and corresponding PDE's are discussed.