Space curves of constant breadth in Minkowski 3-space (Q380394)

The considerations in this article are based on an old definition of the notion of constant breadth proposed by \textit{M. Fujiwara} in 1914 [Tôhoku Math. J. 5, 180--184 (1914; JFM 45.0731.01)] and mentioned later by \textit{D. J. Struik} in 1931 [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 37, 49--62 (1931; Zbl 0001.16402)]. It does not take into account later developments in the theory of convex bodies nor does it quote recent generalizations proposed by \textit{S. A. Robertson} given by the notion of transnormality [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 16, 264-274 (1984; Zbl 0536.53059)]. Both notions cannot be generalized in a reasonable way to Minkowski 3- or \(n\)-space, because they depend on metric considerations and the transversality between a submanifold and its normal spaces. The considerations in this article are based on a Euclidean way of thinking neglecting several of the traps resulting from the non-Euclidean peculiarities of the geometry of Minkowski space. One example is the result for closed time-like curves mentioned at the end of the summary. Closed time-like curves obviously do not exist in Minkowski 3-space (nor in Minkowski \(n\)-space).