On osculation of Finsler-type connections (Q1262540)

Let us consider a vector bundle \(\xi =(E,\pi,B)\) and a Finsler-type connection (\({\mathcal H}^ F,{\mathcal H})\) on it, where \({\mathcal H}^ F\) is a linear connection in VE and \({\mathcal H}\) is a nonlinear connection in TB. Osculation means here the association to (\({\mathcal H}^ F,{\mathcal H})\) of a relatively simple connection of TB, which yields an approximation of (\({\mathcal H}^ F,{\mathcal H})\) in a certain sense. Three such osculations are defined, and their affine and metrical properties (especially properties of (\({\mathcal H}^ F,{\mathcal H})\) surviving the differential approximations) are determined and investigated.