Sub-Riemannian metrics and isoperimetric problems in the contact case (Q5948393)

A contact sub-Riemannian metric is a triple \((X, \Delta, g)\), where \(X\) is a (2n+1)-dimensional manifold, \(\Delta\) is a distribution on \(X\), which is a contact structure, \(g\) is a metric on \(\Delta\). In the paper under review the contact sub-Riemannian geometry is applied to the following isoperimetric problem on a two-dimensional Riemannian manifold \((M,g)\): given a 2-form \(\eta\) and two curves \(\gamma_0\), \(\gamma_1\) joining points \(q_0\), \(q_1\), find a curve \(\gamma\) from \(q_0\) to \(q_1\) such that the length of \(\gamma\) is minimal and the value \(A=\int_\Omega \eta\) is prescribed, where \(\Omega\) is the domain bounded by \(\gamma_0\), \(\gamma_1\) (call \(\gamma\) an optimal curve). The authors demonstrate that the isoperimetric problem \((M,g,\eta)\) determines special sub-Riemannian metrics (called isoparametric metrics), find normal forms and invariants for these metrics, study the exponential mapping and its singularities, describe spheres and wave fronts, together with their singularities, and apply these results to the isoperimetric problem. For example, they prove the following statement. Suppose that \(q_1\) is sufficiently close to \(q_0\), and \(A\) is sufficiently small. If \(p_{ij}= \nabla_i \nabla_j k - {1 \over 2} g^{lm} \nabla_l \nabla_m k g_{ij} \neq 0\) at \(q_0\), where \(k\) is the Gaussian curvature, then there are exactly one or two optimal curves \(\gamma\). If \(p_{ij} = 0\) at \(q_0\) then there are points \(q_1\) with three optimal curves from \(q_0\) to \(q_1\).