Optimal paths for symmetric actions in the unitary group (Q2016038)

Let \({\mathcal L}\) be a symmetric Lagrangian defined on the algebra of \(n\times n\) complex matrices, i.e. \[ {\mathcal L}:M_n(\mathbb{C})\to \mathbb{R}^+ , \] \({\mathcal L}\) is convex and \({\mathcal L}(UAV)={\mathcal L}(A)\) for \(U,V\in{\mathcal U}(n)\) (the unitary group of \(M_n(\mathbb{C})\)). Examples of symmetric Lagrangians are the unitarily invariant norms in \(M_n(\mathbb{C})\), and the kinetic energy (square of the Frobenius norm). The action \({\mathcal S}\) induced by \({\mathcal L}\) is the functional \[ {\mathcal S}(\alpha)=\int_a^b {\mathcal L}(\dot{\alpha}(t)) dt \] defined on piecewise smooth curves in \({\mathcal U}(n)\). The main results of this paper are the following: Theorem 7: If \(U\in{\mathcal U}(n)\) and \(Z^*=Z\) with \(\|Z\|\leq \pi\), then \[ \gamma(t)=Ue^{itZ/b} \] is minimal for the action \({\mathcal S}\), among piecewise smooth curves \(\alpha:[0,b]\to {\mathcal U}(n)\) such that \(\alpha(0)=U\), \(\alpha(b)=\gamma(b)\). Theorem 12: Assuming further that \({\mathcal L}\) is strictly convex, the above curve \(\gamma\) is unique among minimal curves joining the same endpoints as \(\gamma\). These results are based on a fine theorem by \textit{R. C. Thompson} [Pac. J. Math. 66, 285--290 (1976; Zbl 0361.15014)]: If \(X,Y\in M_n(\mathbb{C})\), then there exist \(U,V\in{\mathcal U}(n)\) such that \[ |X+Y|\leq U|X|U^*+V|Y|V^*. \]