On Euler-Arnold equations and totally geodesic subgroups (Q550289)

The geodesic motion on a Lie group equipped with a left or right invariant Riemannian metric is governed by the Euler-Arnold equation. The authors investigate conditions on the metric in order for a given subgroup to be totally geodesic. Results on the construction and characterisation of such metrics are given, especially in the special case of easy totally geodesic submanifolds that are introduced in the paper. The setting works both in the classical finite dimensional case, and in the category of infinite dimensional Fréchet-Lie groups, in which diffeomorphism groups are included. Using the framework, new examples of both finite and infinite dimensional totally geodesic subgroups are given. In particular, based on the cross helicity, the authors construct right invariant metrics such that a given subgroup of exact volume preserving diffeomorphisms is totally geodesic. The paper also gives a general framework for the representation of Euler-Arnold equations in an arbitrary choice of dual pairing.