Locally \(G\)-homogeneous Busemann \(G\)-spaces (Q546120)

Let \((X,d)\) be a Busemann (metric) \(G\)-space. The authors define the notion of local \(G\)-homogeneity of \(X\). Roughly speaking, this means that any sufficiently small metric ball can be represented as a cone with the vertex sufficiently closed to the ball center such that the cone lines are geodesics. The authors prove that, in a locally \(G\)-homogeneous Busemann \(G\)-space, all sufficiently small metric spheres are mutually homeomorphic and strongly topologically homogeneous. They prove also the existence of a finite-dimensional locally \(G\)-homogeneous Busemann space which has no convex metric ball of positive radius. They consider these results as a step for proving the Busemann conjecture, still open in dimension \(n >4\), that any \(n\)-dimensional Busemann \(G\)-space is a topological manifold.