On a quasihyperbolic plane (Q1972168)

Let \(\mathbb R^2_+=\{ (x,y)\in \mathbb R^2\mid y>0\}\) and let \(\Gamma\) be the group of transformations \(\gamma: \mathbb R^2_+ \to \mathbb R^2_+\), where \(\gamma_1 (x,y) =ax+b\), \(\gamma_2 (x,y)=ay\) for some \(a>0\) and \(-\infty <b<+\infty\). The author describes all left invariant intrinsic metrics \(\rho\) on \(\Gamma\) and, in addition, finds all such \(\rho\) which satisfy the axioms of a Busemann \(G\)-space. In the latter case, the metric space \((\Gamma, \rho)\) is said to be a quasihyperbolic plane. Previously, a general expression for the metrics of a quasihyperbolic plane as well as its geodesics were found by \textit{H.~Busemann} in [Rend. Circ. Mat. Palermo, II. Ser. 4, 256-269 (1955; Zbl 0068.36701)]. In the article under review, the author uses the Pontryagin maximum principle for obtaining the same results in a more rigorous way. Besides, the author deduces some conditions implying that, for all \(\rho >0\), a ball of radius \(\rho\) in the quasihyperbolic metric is not geodesically convex.