Li-Yau type inequality for curves in any codimension (Q6137577)

For immersed curves in Euclidean space of any dimension the author establishes a Li-Yau type inequality that gives a lower bound for the (normalized) bending energy in terms of multiplicity. The obtained inequality is optimal for any codimension and any multiplicity except for the case of planar closed curves with odd multiplicity. In this remaining case the author discovers a hidden algebraic obstruction and indeed proves an exhaustive non-optimality result. The proof is mainly variational and involves \textit{J. Langer} and \textit{D. A. Singer}'s classification of elasticae [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 30, 512--520 (1984; Zbl 0595.53001)] and \textit{Y. Andr'e}'s algebraic-independence theorem for certain hypergeometric functions in [J. Reine Angew. Math. 476, 95-125 (1996; Zbl 0848.11033)]. The author also discusses applications to elastic flows, networks, and knots.