The traveling salesman theorem in Carnot groups (Q1632185)

Let \(X\) be a metric space. A set \(E \subseteq X\) is called a rectfiable curve if it is the Lipschitz image of a finite interval. The Euclidean traveling salesman theorem states that for \(X = \mathbb{R}^n\), a set \(E\) lies on a finite length rectifiable curve if and only if \[ \text{diam}(E) + \int_{X} \int_0^\infty \beta_E(x,r)^2 \frac{dr}{r^n} dx < \infty. \] The \(\beta\)-numbers are defined by \[ \beta_E(x,r):= \inf_{L} \sup_{z \in B(x, r) \cap E} \frac{d(z, L)}{r}, \] where the infimum is taken over the set of all affine lines \(L\). Various generalization of this result has been obtained. In Carnot groups context there is a concept of lines, so called \textit{horizontal lines}. Hence the definition of \(\beta\)-numbers readily generalizes in this case. In the Heisenberg group \(\mathbb{H}\) it has been shown that if \[ \gamma_p(E):= \text{diam}(E) + \int_{\mathbb{H}} \int_0^\infty \beta_E(x,r)^p \frac{dr}{r^4} dx, \] then there is a universal constant \(C>0\) such that if \(E \subseteq \mathbb{H}\) is a finite length rectifiable curve, the following hold \[ \gamma_4(E) \leq C \ell(E). \] A weaker version for the converse holds: if for any \(p>4\), \(\gamma_p(E) < \infty\) then there is a finite length rectifiable curve that contains \(E\). It is unknown if the converse holds for \(p=4\). In the present paper it is proved that, in case \(\mathbb{G}\) is a step \(r\) Carnot group with Hausdorff dimension \(Q\), there is a constant \(C > 0\) such that, for any rectifiable curve \(E \subseteq \mathbb{G}\), the following holds \[ \int_{\mathbb{G}} \int_0^\infty \beta_E(x,t)^{2r^2} \frac{dt}{t^Q} d\mathcal{H}^Q(x) \leq C \mathcal{H}^1(E). \] In case of step \(2\) Carnot group (of which the Heisenberg group is an example) this theorem is improved with an exponent \(4\) on \(\beta\).