Classical dynamics of the rigid string from the Willmore functional (Q1891533)

The authors show that the rigid string in flat space-time is described by the Euler-Lagrange equation for the Willmore functional in a space-time of constant curvature \(K = -\gamma/(2 \alpha)\) where \(\gamma\) and \(\alpha\) are the coefficients of the Nambu-Goto term and the curvature term in the rigid string action, respectively (the Willmore functional is obtained by setting \(\gamma = 0\) in the rigid string action). The proof is made explicit only for the case where the flat and constant curvature ``space-times'' are \(E^3\) and \(S^3\), respectively, but various generalizations and results of potential physical interest are hinted at. Moreover, an analogous result for point-particles is also derived.