Geometry without topology as a new conception of geometry (Q1608228)

The author proposes a new approach to geometry, in which the only notion to be referred to is the distance between two points. The distance function itself should not be required to be definite or to satisfy the triangle inequality, but just to be a symmetric function \(\rho\) with \(\rho(P,P)=0\) for all \(P\). Since J. L. Synge's ``world function'' \(\sigma=(1/2)\rho^2\) is the actual object of study, and it is just required to take real values, both negative and imaginary distances (values of \(\rho\)) are allowed. The theory of sets equipped with such a world function is called a T-geometry, and the author investigates the extent to which Riemannian geometric notions can be described inside it, emphasizing some points of difference favourable to T-geometry. One of these is the fact that, having given up the concept of continuous geodesics, it sees, in contrast to Riemannian geometry, a non-convex part of the Euclidean space as isometrically embeddable in the space from which it was cut out. Given the absence of continuity assumptions, a potential application of the T-geometric approach would be discrete relativity theory. The T-geometric approach is an extension of previous purely metric researches, such as those of \textit{K. Menger} [Math. Ann. 100, 75-163 (1928; JFM 54.0622.02)] and \textit{L. M. Blumenthal} [Theory and applications of distance geometry (2nd ed., Chelsea, New York) (1970; Zbl 0208.24801)]. More general, by being based only on the concept of segment-congruence (or that of a single distance, as in the reviewer's [Zesz. Nauk. Geom. 18, 5-8 (1990; Zbl 0722.51014); 19, 87 (1991; Zbl 0729.51011)], in \textit{A. Tyszka} [Algebra, geometry and their applications. Seminar proceedings, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia. Vol. 1, 88-90 (2001; Zbl 0997.51004)] and in \textit{H. L. Royden} [(Studies Logic Found. Math., Axiomatic Method, 86-96) (1959; Zbl 0089.16505)], yet more restricted by being valid only for the classical geometries, is Pieri's approach and its extensions in \textit{W. Schwabhäuser, W. Szmielew}, and \textit{A. Tarski} [Metamathematische Methoden in der Geometrie. II: Metamathematische Betrachtungen (Springer-Verlag, Berlin) (1983; Zbl 0564.51001)]. So far, the literature on the subject of T-geometries consists of the author's [J. Math. Phys. 31, No. 12, 2876-2890 (1990; Zbl 0728.51014), J. Math. Phys. 32, No. 8, 2092-2098 (1991; Zbl 0737.70010), and Fundam. Prikl. Mat. 7, No. 4, 1147-1175 (2001)].