Valuations on manifolds and integral geometry (Q607662)

Let \(M\) and \(N\) be manifolds and let \({\mathcal P}(M)\) be set of compact submanifolds with corners of \(M\). A function \(\mu: {\mathcal P}(M)\to {\mathbb C}\) is called a valuation if it is finitely additive; so measures are special valuations. Denote by \(V^{\infty}(M)\) the so called smooth valuations on \(X\) and let \(f: M\to N\). If \(f\) is a submersion, the author constructs the operation of push-forward \(f_*:V^{\infty}(M)\to V^{\infty}(N)\). For an immersion \(f\), the push-forward is defined on so called generalized valuations. These new operations generalize the push-forward of smooth measures. Dually, the pull-back \(f^*: V^{\infty}(N)\to V^{\infty}(M)\) is defined if \(f\) is an immersion or submersion. In particular, this allows to define the pull-back of a smooth measure as a (generalized) valuation. Using the new operations and the multiplicative structure on the space of valuations introduced by the author in [Geom. Funct. Anal. 14, 1--26 (2004; Zbl 1072.52011)], a general Radon transform on valuations is introduced for a given double fibration. It is shown that the classical Radon transform on smooth functions and the Radon transform on constructible functions with respect to the Euler characteristic are special cases of the new Radon transform. In a specific case of real projective spaces, an inversion formula for the Radon transform on valuations is established.