Geometric constructions on cycles (Q1767364)

The authors [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 31, 725--744 (2001; Zbl 0988.51002)] investigated the Apollonius problem in \(n\)-dimensional Euclidean space \({\mathbb R}^n\), which asks to find for given \(n+1\) oriented hyperspheres and hyperplanes of \({\mathbb R}^n\) an oriented hypersphere or hyperplane that is a common tangent such that the orientations agree at the points of touching. Points, oriented hyperplanes and oriented hyperspheres can all be represented as cycles, that is, points of the Lie quadric \(\Omega\) in \((n+2)\)-dimensional real projective space \({\mathbb P}^{n+2}\) given by a quadratic form on \({\mathbb R}^{n+3}\) of signature \((n+1,2)\). Two cycles are Lie-orthogonal, that is, orthogonal with respect to the polarity associated with the Lie quadric, if and only if the corresponding geometric objects in \({\mathbb R}^n\) are tangent and the orientations agree at the point of tangency. The Apollonius problem can then be solved in the Lie geometry. If the cycles form a configuration, that is, the \(n+1\) cycles span an \(n\)-dimensinal subspace of \({\mathbb P}^{n+2}\), then a solution is described by means of the position of a projective line, the polar of the configuration, relative to \(\Omega\). In the paper under review the authors continue their investigation of consistent configurations of cycles, that is, configurations for which the Apollonius problem has one or two solutions. Using local coordinates they describe a coherent way to choose one solution for a consistent configuration thus obtaining a map \({\mathcal A}\) from the set of all consistent configurations to \(\Omega\). Combining \({\mathcal A}\) with Lie reflections the authors obtain many examples for consistent geometric constructions. Using instead projective transformations that do not leave the Lie quadric invariant they provide examples for solutions of the generalized Apollonius problem where a solution needs no longer be Lie orthogonal but intersects the \(n+1\) cycles at prescribed angles.