On projective invariants of general spherically symmetric Finsler spaces in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) (Q2672309)

A general spherically symmetric Finsler metric is a Finsler metric of the form \(F=r\phi(u,s,v,t);\,\, r=|y|,\, u={|x|}^2,\, s=\frac{<x,y>}{|y|},\, v=<a,x>,\, t=\frac{<a,y>}{|y|},\, |a|<1\), where \(x\in \mathbb{R}^n,\, y\in T_x\mathbb{R}^n,\, a=a_iy^i\), and \(\phi\) is a \(C^{\infty}\) function on \(\mathbb{R}^n\). If \(a=0\), then the Finsler metric \(F\) reduces to a spherically symmetric Finsler metric: \(F(x,y)=|y|\phi(|x|,\frac{<x,y>}{|y|})\). These metrics form a special class of general \((\alpha,\beta)\)-metrics. If \(a\neq0\), then the Finsler metric \(F\) is neither a spherically symmetric Finsler metric nor a general \((\alpha,\beta)\)-metric. In the present paper the authors discuss projective invariants of general spherically symmetric Finsler metrics in \(\mathbb{R}^n\). They obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the metrics to be projectively Ricci flat, Weyl type and \(W\)-quadratic type. In particular, they use the spray theory to give a short proof of the well-known theorem: ``A Finsler manifold is of scalar flag curvature if and only if \(F\) is a Weyl metric''. Consequently, using the technique of the proof, they obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for a metric of scalar flag curvature to be a Weyl metric. Moreover, under a certain condition, the authors prove that projectively Ricci flat general spherically symmetric metrics coincide with Douglas metrics.