Designing metrics; the delta metric for curves^*

Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.

^** Corresponding author: a.mennucci@sns.it

Received: 12 March 2018
Accepted: 5 August 2018

Abstract

In the first part, we revisit some key notions. Let M be a Riemannian manifold. Let G be a group acting on M. We discuss the relationship between the quotient M∕G, “horizontality” and “normalization”. We discuss the distinction between path-wise invariance and point-wise invariance and how the former positively impacts the design of metrics, in particular for the mathematical and numerical treatment of geodesics. We then discuss a strategy to design metrics with desired properties.

In the second part, we prepare methods to normalize some standard group actions on the curve; we design a simple differential operator, called the delta operator, and compare it to the usual differential operators used in defining Riemannian metrics for curves.

In the third part we design two examples of Riemannian metrics in the space of planar curves. These metrics are based on the “delta” operator; they are “modular”, they are composed of different terms, each associated to a group action. These are “strong” metrics, that is, smooth metrics on the space of curves, that is defined as a differentiable manifolds, modeled on the standard Sobolev space H². These metrics enjoy many important properties, including: metric completeness, geodesic completeness, existence of minimal length geodesics. These metrics properly project on the space of curves up to parameterization; the quotient space again enjoys the above properties.