Generalized \(P\)-reducible Finsler metrics (Q2400098)

A Finsler metric \(F\) on a manifold \(M\) is called generalized \(P\)-reducible if its Landsberg curvature \(L_{ijk}:=C_{ijk| s}\,y^s\) (the stroke being the Berwald horizontal covariant derivative) has the form \(L_{ijk} = \lambda C_{ijk} + a_i h_{jk} + a_j h_{ki} + a_k h_{ij}\), where \(\lambda=\lambda(x,y)\) is a function on \(TM\), homogeneous of degree 1 in \(y\), \(a_i=a_i(x)\) are functions on \(M\), homogeneous of degree 0 in \(y\) such that \(a_iy^i=0\) and \(h_{ij}\) is the angular metric. The class of generalized \(P\)-reducible metrics comprises the class of general isotropic Landsberg metrics (\(a_i=0\)) and the class of \(P\)-reducible metrics (\(\lambda=0\)). The present paper deals with the conditions under which generalized \(P\)-reducible metrics reduce to \(C\)-reducible metrics. The first main result of the paper is: ``Let \((M,F)\) be a generalized \(P\)-reducible Finsler manifold of non-zero scalar flag curvature \(\mathbf{K}\). If \(F\) satisfies \(\lambda_{| s}\,y^s + \lambda^2 +\mathbf{K} F^2\neq0\), then \(F\) is a \(C\)-reducible metric''. As a consequence, a \(P\)-reducible Finsler metric of non-zero scalar flag curvature is a \(C\)-reducible metric. On the other hand, the stretch curvature \(\Sigma\) is defined by \(\Sigma_{ijkl}:=2(L_{ijk| l}-L_{ijl| k})\). A Finsler metric is said to be a stretch metric if \(\Sigma=0\). The second main result is: ``Let \((M,F)\) be a generalized \(P\)-reducible Finsler manifold. If \(F\) is a stretch metric, then \(F\) is a \(C\)-reducible metric''. As a consequence, a generalized \(P\)-reducible stretch metric, with \(\dim M\geq3\), is a Randers metric.