Rectifiability of self-contracted curves in the Euclidean space and applications (Q2347947)

A central question in the asymptotic theory of a general gradient dynamical system of the form \[ \gamma'(t) = - \nabla f(\gamma(t)),\quad t>0 \] and \( \gamma(0) = x_0\in{\mathbb R}^n\), \(f\) being a quasiconvex smooth function, is whether or not bounded orbits are of finite length. In [\textit{P. Manselli} and \textit{C. Pucci}, Geom. Dedicata 38, No. 2, 211--227 (1991; Zbl 0724.52006)] a certain class of Lipschitz curves has been introduced to capture the behaviour of orbits of quasiconvex potentials. Its main result states that the length of such curves is bounded by the mean width of their convex hull. The first author of the paper under review introduced in [\textit{A. Daniilidis} et al., J. Math. Pures Appl. (9) 94, No. 2, 183--199 (2010; Zbl 1201.37023)] the notion of self-contracted curve which generalizes the curves studied by Manselli. A curve \(\gamma:I\to {\mathbb R}^n\) is called a self-contracted curve if for every \([a,b]\subset I\), the real-valued function \[ t\in[a,b]\to d(\gamma(t),\gamma(b)) \] is non-increasing. The main result shows that bounded continuous planar self-contracted curves have finite length. This main result cannot be deduced from the main result in Manselli, but can only be compared in retrospect, once rectifiability is established. Now, let us start with the paper under review. First, rectifiability of any self-contracted curve in \({\mathbb R}^n\) is established, extending thus the result of Manselli to any curve. Secondly, if \(\gamma\) is a continuous self-contracted curve and \(\Gamma=\gamma(I)\) is bounded, then \(\Gamma\) is also the image of some Lipschitz self-expanded curve, a notion related with the curves introduced by Manselli. After the submission of the paper under review a preprint appeared, now already published, [\textit{M. Longinetti} et al., Math. Nachr. 288, No. 4, 420--442 (2015; Zbl 1318.52004)], where the rectifiability of continuous self-contracted curves is established via a different method.