Geodesic distance for right invariant Sobolev metrics of fractional order on the diffeomorphism group (Q2376975)

The work studies several geometrical details within the Arnold's approach to hydrodynamics as geodesic equations on the group of diffeomorphisms. The proof is presented for the theorem, which states that the geodesic distance on \(\mathrm{Diff}_c(M)\) vanishes if and only if the condition \(0<s\leq 1/2\) for the Sobolev-type metrics of fractional order \(s\) and \(M=S^1\), \(s=1/2\) for \(M=S^1\times N\), as well it is positive for \(1/2<s\) if \(\mathrm{dim}(M) =1\) and \(1\leq s\) for \(\mathrm{dim}(M)\geq 2 \). The proof is based on the construction of paths with arbitrary short length from identity to desirable diffeomorphisms.