No label defined (Q4518797)

The problem of finding a geometrical structure of Riemannian type on a manifold \(M\) such that the orbits of an arbitrary vector field \(X\) should be geodesics, was analyzed by \textit{S. Sasaki} [Math. Inst., Tôhoku Univ., 1965, 1967, 1968]. Dealing with this problem, he created the well known almost contact structures on a manifold of odd dimension, although the initial problem rests open. The same problem is resumed by \textit{C.} and \textit{A. Udriste} [Balkan J. Geom. Appl. 2, No. 1, 129-140 (1997; Zbl 0894.53060)]. This succeeded to discover a Lagrange structure on \(M\), dependent on \(X\) and a \((1,1)\)-tensor field, such that the orbits of class \(C^2\) should be geodesics. Moreover, they formulated more general problems: (1) Do there exist structures of Lagrange type such that the solutions are of this type? (2) What is a harmonic map between two spaces, endowed with structures of this type? The author attacks these problems. He uses a new notion of harmonic map on a direction, offering thus a partial answer to the Udriste's questions. An open problem is proposed at the end. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0942.00034].