On the geometry of hyperbolic cycles (Q1271592)

The \(n\)-dimensional Lie geometry, \(n\geq 2\), is the geometry of Lie cycles, that is, points and oriented hyperspheres of the \(n\)-sphere \({\mathbb S}^n\), with respect to oriented contact between Lie cycles defined in the usual way. A Lie transformation is a permutation \(f\) of the Lie cycles such that two Lie cycles are in oriented contact if and only if their images under \(f\) are in oriented contact. It is well known that Lie cycles can be described algebraically as points of the Lie quadric in \((n+2)\)-dimensional projective space and that the Lie transformations are precisely the projective linear maps that leave the Lie quadric invariant. Deleting a point from an \(n\)-dimensional Lie geometry one obtains the \(n\)-dimensional Laguerre geometry of points and oriented hyperspheres (the Laguerre cycles) and oriented hyperplanes (the Laguerre spears) of \({\mathbb R}^n\). In this case Laguerre transformations can be based in various ways on Laguerre cycles or Laguerre spears. However one obtains equivalent definitions, that is, they all come from Lie transformations of the associated Lie geometry. In the paper under review the author deals with \(n\)-dimensional hyperbolic space \(H^n\) and the geometry of hyperbolic cycles (i.e., points and oriented hyperspheres of \(H^n\)) and hyperbolic spears (oriented hyperplanes of \(H^n\)) with respect to oriented contact. Using the half sphere model of \(H^n\), i.e., points of \(H^n\) are the points of the upper hemisphere of \({\mathbb S}^n\) so that hyperbolic cycles are precisely the Lie cycles entirely contained in \(H^n\), the author determines all surjections \(f\) from the of hyperbolic cycles to itself such that two cycles are in oriented contact if and only if their images under \(f\) are in oriented contact. It is shown that each such hyperbolic cycle transformation can be associated with an orthochronous Lorentz transformation and a euclidean motion of \({\mathbb R}\). A hyperbolic Laguerre transformation is a permutation \(f\) of the set of hyperbolic cycles such that two hyperbolic spears, where a hyperbolic spear is identified with the hyperbolic cycles in oriented contact with it, are in oriented contact if and only if their images under \(f\) are in oriented contact. The author shows that \(f\) is induced by a hyperbolic motion or one with a change of orientation. Thus not every hyperbolic cycle transformation is a hyperbolic Laguerre transformation in contrast to the euclidean case. However, if oriented equidistant hypersurfaces (the intersections of \(H^n\) with Lie cycles that contain points from both hemispheres) or oriented horo-hyperspheres are used instead of hyperbolic spears one obtains again a hyperbolic cycle transformation. In the final section the author gives interpretations in terms of cyclographic projections in Poincaré's sphere model and Weierstrass's model of hyperbolic geometry and in a Robertson-Walker spacetime.