From symmetric to transsymmetric spaces. (Q1397844)

In this survey the authors present one branch of evolution of the concept of symmetry in Differential Geometry starting from the concept of a symmetric space (introduced by E. Cartan in 1926). That concept has appeared to be very rich in content, stimulating the research in Lie groups, Geometry, Physics, etc. The starting point is the work by O. Loos, who tried to describe a symmetric space by means of the (local) binary operation \(x\cdot y=s_xy=\text{ Exp}_x(-\text{ Exp}_x^{-1}y)\) and by its algebraic properties. The next crucial step was due to A. J. Ledger, who introduced the notion of generalized symmetry on a manifold. After Loos and Ledger, O. Kowalski and A. S. Fedenko also played an important role; they introduced (independently) the notion of a regular \(s\)-manifold, which admits a canonical affine connection possessing very good geometric properties. Finally, L. Sabinin and L. Sabinina have generalized the construction of Kowalski-Fedenko by means of the transsymmetric spaces, whose comprehensive theory been had elaborated by Sabinina in her doctoral dissertation.