The functional definition of geodesics
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Functional equations for functions with more general domains and/or ranges (39B52) Functional inequalities, including subadditivity, convexity, etc. (39B62) Linear and affine connections (53B05) Other connections (53B15) Connections (general theory) (53C05) Geodesics in global differential geometry (53C22)
Abstract: In this paper a functional definition of geodesics is introduced which allows to generalize the notion of a geodesic from smooth to topological manifolds. It is shown that in the smooth case the new definition coincides with the classical definition of geodesics of a linear connection. If the smoothness is not required, it is shown by an example that the new definition includes geodesics of non-linear, homogeneous connections. Moreover, an example of generalized geodesics which does not arise from any connection is presented here.
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