Pseudoconvex and disprisoning homogeneous sprays (Q1900036)

The authors investigate homogeneous sprays \(S\) on manifolds. A curve \(c : [a,b] \to M\) is called an \(S\)-geodesic if its lift to \(TM\) is an integral curve of the spray \(S\). \(S\) is ``pseudoconvex'' if for each compact set \(K \subset M\) there is a larger compact set such that all \(S\)-geodesics with endpoints in \(K\) are entirely contained in this larger compact set. \(S\) is called ``disprisoning'' if all inextendible \(S\)-geodesics leave any compact set. This last condition is motivated from general relativity where inextensible causal geodesics which lie in a compact set are often considered a pathology. Their main theorem is the following: If \(S\) is a pseudoconvex, disprisoning homogeneous spray of degree \(m\), then there is a \(C^0\) fine neighbourhood \(W\) of \(S\) such that all homogeneous sprays \(S' \in W\) of degree \(m\) are pseudoconvex and disprisoning. The article rests much on earlier work, especially the article of \textit{J. K. Beem} and \textit{P. E. Parker} [Ann. Mat. Pura Appl., IV. Ser. 155, 137-142 (1989; Zbl 0695.53022)].