Metric entropy of homogeneous spaces and Finsler geometry of classical Lie groups

arXivmath/9701204MaRDI QIDQ6502086FDOQ6502086

Authors: Stanislaw J. Szarek 

Abstract: For a (compact) subset $K$ of a metric space and $varepsilon>0$, the {em covering number} $N(K,varepsilon)$ is defined as the smallest number of balls of radius $varepsilon$ whose union covers $K$. Knowledge of the {em metric entropy}, i.e., the asymptotic behaviour of covering numbers for (families of) metric spaces is important in many areas of mathematics (geometry, functional analysis, probability, coding theory, to name a few). In this paper we give asymptotically correct estimates for covering numbers for a large class of homogeneous spaces of unitary (or orthogonal) groups with respect to some natural metrics, most notably the one induced by the operator norm. This generalizes earlier author's results concerning covering numbers of Grassmann manifolds; the generalization is motivated by applications to noncommutative probability and operator algebras. In the process we give a characterization of geodesics in $U(n)$ (or $SO(m)$) for a class of non-Riemannian metric structures.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Miscellaneous inequalities involving matrices (15A45) Geometry and structure of normed linear spaces (46B20) Local differential geometry of Finsler spaces and generalizations (areal metrics) (53B40) Geodesics in global differential geometry (53C22) Differential geometry of homogeneous manifolds (53C30) Global differential geometry of Finsler spaces and generalizations (areal metrics) (53C60)

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