Metric structure of cut loci in surfaces and Ambrose's problem (Q1345152)

The author proves the following Theorem. Let \(M\) be a complete 2- dimensional Riemannian manifold and let \(p\) be a point in \(M\). Then every compact subset of the cut locus of \(p\) in \(M\) has finite 1-dimensional Hausdorff measure. We recall now that \textit{W. Ambrose} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 64, 337-363 (1956; Zbl 0075.174)] proved that a complete connected and simply connected Riemannian manifold is determined, up to a global isometry, by the behavior of the curvature tensor under parallel translation along all broken geodesics emanating from a given point [this is the so called Cartan-Ambrose-Hicks Theorem, see [\textit{J. Cheeger} and \textit{D. G. Ebin}, Comparison theorems in Riemannian geometry, North Holland, Amsterdam (1975; Zbl 0309.53035)]. Nonetheless Ambrose thought the hypothesis might be too strong and posed the problem of deciding whether or not the behavior of the curvature along unbroken geodesics emanating from the point would yet be enough to determine the manifold. In an earlier paper [\textit{J. J. Hebda}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 299, 559-572 (1987; Zbl 0615.53026)], the author solved Ambrose's problem in the case of a surface for which every compact subset of the cut locus of a given point has finite one-dimensional Hausdorff measure. Combining this result with the above Theorem, the author gives a positive answer to the problem posed by Ambrose, provided the dimension is two. For higher dimensions, Ambrose's problem remains unsolved.