Mellish theorem for generalized constant width curves

Mellish's theorem states that all planar curves of the same constant width \(a\) have the same length \(L = a\pi\). Moreover it says that the following statements for planar curves are equivalent: {\parindent=6.5mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] A curve is of constant width. \item[(ii)] A curve is of constant diameter. \item[(iii)] A curve is oval with each of its normals being double. \item[(iv)] A curve is oval and has the property that the sum of radii at opposite points is constant. \end{itemize}} The author generalizes this theorem with respect to the concept of isoptics: If \(C\) is an oval curve and \(\alpha\) is an angle with \(0 < \alpha \leq \pi\) then the locus \(C_\alpha\) of points from which \(C\) is seen under the angle \(\pi - \alpha\) is called the \textit{\(\alpha\)-isoptic of \(C\)}. Let \(P\) be a point on \(C_\alpha\) and let \(P_1\), \(P_2\) be the contact points of the tangents to \(C\) emanating from \(P\). If \(q(t, \alpha)\) denotes the vector \(\overrightarrow{P_1P_2}\) then the value \[ \kappa_\alpha(t) := \frac{2| q(t,\alpha)|^2 - [q(t, \alpha), q'(t, \alpha)]}{| q(t, \alpha)|^3} \] is introduced as the \textit{\(\alpha\)-curvature} of \(C\) at \(t\). Here \([.,.]\) denotes the determinant of the two argument vectors and the parameter \(t\) used for the parameterization of \(C\) is the angle of the normal of \(C\) in the respective point. If \(\kappa_\alpha =\mathrm{const}\) then \(C\) is called a \textit{curve of constant \(\alpha\)-width}. Additionally, if \(Q(t,\alpha)\) denotes the vector connecting the two points obtained as orthogonal projections of the origin on the tangents \(PP_1\), \(PP_2\) then the distance \(| Q(t,\alpha)|\) of these two points is called \textit{\(\alpha\)-spread} of \(C\) at \(t\). The curve with the parameterization \(H_\alpha(t) = P(t) \text{e}^{it} + P'(t) i \text{e}^{it}\) where \(P(t) := \frac{| Q(t)|}{2}\) is called the \textit{\(\alpha\)-hedgehog associated to the oval \(C\)}. The subsequently mentioned notations are also used in the author's generalization of Mellish's theorem: The two contact points \(P_1\), \(P_2\) belong to the parameter values \(t\) and \(t+\alpha\) with respect to the above mentioned parameterization; \(\alpha_1\), \(\alpha_2\) denote the angles of the triangle \(PP_1P_2\) at \(P_1\), \(P_2\) and \(\kappa\) denotes the curvature of the curve \(C\) in one of its points. Then the generalized Mellish theorem can be formulated as follows: All oval curves of the same constant \(\alpha\)-width \(a\) have associated \(\alpha\)-hedgehogs of the same length \(L = \pi a\). Moreover, for fixed \(\alpha \in ]0, \pi]\) the following statements are equivalent: {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] An oval is of constant \(\alpha\)-width. \item[(ii)] An oval is of constant \(\alpha\)-spread. \item[(iii)] The vectors \(q(t, \alpha)\) and \(Q(t, \alpha)\) are always parallel. \item[(iv)] The expression \(\frac{1}{| q(t,\alpha)|^2}\left(2| q(t,\alpha)| - \left(\frac{\sin \alpha_1}{\kappa(t+\alpha)} + \frac{\sin \alpha_2}{\kappa(t)}\right)\right)\) is constant. \end{itemize}}

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