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Liviu Nicolaescu
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Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's Deane's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Edit 3. The proof of the above proposition does not use the linear structure of $\bR^N$. It uses only the metric structure, and more precisely the fact that any two different points in $\bR^N$ determine a unique geodesic. The normalization condition should be rewritten as

$$\eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})= 2 \delta_{c(\bp,\bq)}, $$

where $c(\bp,\bq)$ denotes the midpoint of the geodesic arc $[\bp,\bq]$. In the above proposition we can then replace $\bR^N$ with the hyperbolic space $\newcommand{\bH}{\boldsymbol{H}}$ $\bH^N$ and we can conclude that on a hyperbolic space there exists at most one notion of center of mass, i.e., a map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)$ satisfying the four conditions in the Proposition.

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Edit 3. The proof of the above proposition does not use the linear structure of $\bR^N$. It uses only the metric structure, and more precisely the fact that any two different points in $\bR^N$ determine a unique geodesic. The normalization condition should be rewritten as

$$\eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})= 2 \delta_{c(\bp,\bq)}, $$

where $c(\bp,\bq)$ denotes the midpoint of the geodesic arc $[\bp,\bq]$. In the above proposition we can then replace $\bR^N$ with the hyperbolic space $\newcommand{\bH}{\boldsymbol{H}}$ $\bH^N$ and we can conclude that on a hyperbolic space there exists at most one notion of center of mass, i.e., a map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)$ satisfying the four conditions in the Proposition.

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deane's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Edit 3. The proof of the above proposition does not use the linear structure of $\bR^N$. It uses only the metric structure, and more precisely the fact that any two different points in $\bR^N$ determine a unique geodesic. The normalization condition should be rewritten as

$$\eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})= 2 \delta_{c(\bp,\bq)}, $$

where $c(\bp,\bq)$ denotes the midpoint of the geodesic arc $[\bp,\bq]$. In the above proposition we can then replace $\bR^N$ with the hyperbolic space $\newcommand{\bH}{\boldsymbol{H}}$ $\bH^N$ and we can conclude that on a hyperbolic space there exists at most one notion of center of mass, i.e., a map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)$ satisfying the four conditions in the Proposition.

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Liviu Nicolaescu
  • 34.7k
  • 2
  • 91
  • 165

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Edit 3. The proof of the above proposition does not use the linear structure of $\bR^N$. It uses only the metric structure, and more precisely the fact that any two different points in $\bR^N$ determine a unique geodesic. The normalization condition should be rewritten as

$$\eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})= 2 \delta_{c(\bp,\bq)}, $$

where $c(\bp,\bq)$ denotes the midpoint of the geodesic arc $[\bp,\bq]$. In the above proposition we can then replace $\bR^N$ with the hyperbolic space $\newcommand{\bH}{\boldsymbol{H}}$ $\bH^N$ and we can conclude that on a hyperbolic space there exists at most one notion of center of mass, i.e., a map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)$ satisfying the four conditions in the Proposition.

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Edit 3. The proof of the above proposition does not use the linear structure of $\bR^N$. It uses only the metric structure, and more precisely the fact that any two different points in $\bR^N$ determine a unique geodesic. The normalization condition should be rewritten as

$$\eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})= 2 \delta_{c(\bp,\bq)}, $$

where $c(\bp,\bq)$ denotes the midpoint of the geodesic arc $[\bp,\bq]$. In the above proposition we can then replace $\bR^N$ with the hyperbolic space $\newcommand{\bH}{\boldsymbol{H}}$ $\bH^N$ and we can conclude that on a hyperbolic space there exists at most one notion of center of mass, i.e., a map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bH^N)$ satisfying the four conditions in the Proposition.

added 937 characters in body
Source Link
Liviu Nicolaescu
  • 34.7k
  • 2
  • 91
  • 165

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto m(D) \delta_{\frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,$$ where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto m(D) \delta_{\frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,$$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Perhaps instead of finite sets one should work with effective divisors, i.e., formal linear combibinations of the form $\newcommand{\bZ}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\bR}{\mathbb{R}}$ $\newcommand{\bp}{\boldsymbol{p}}$

$$ D= \sum_{\bp\in\bR^N} m_D(\bp) \bp, $$

where $m_D:\bR^N\to\bZ_{\geq 0}$ is a function with finite support. Denote by $\newcommand{\Div}{\mathrm{Div}}$ $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ the space of effective divisors in $\bR^N$. $\Div_{\ge 0}$ has an obvious semigroup structure. Think of the center of mass as a map $\newcommand{\eC}{\mathscr{C}}$

$$ \eC: \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N), $$

with the following properties.

1. For any divisor $D$, the support of the center of mass $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

2. For any divisors $D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ we have

$$ \eC(D_1+D_1) =\eC\Bigl(\; \eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\; \Bigr).$$

3. For any point $\bp\in \bR^N$ and any $m\in\bZ_{\geq 0}$

$$\eC(m \delta_{\bp})=m\delta_{\bp}, $$

where $\delta_{\bp}$ denotes the Dirac divisor of mass $1$ supported at $\bp$.

4. $\eC$ is continuous with respect to the obvious topology on $\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$, where supports of divisors converge in the Hausdorff metric and in the limit the total mass is conserved.

Claim. I believe that these properties uniquely determine $\eC$.

Weaker Claim. The map $\eC$ is uniquely determined if besides 1,...4 we assume the following additional condition.

5. If the support of $D$ is contained in an affine subspace $V\subset \bR^N$, then the support of $\eC(D)$ is contained in the same affine subspace.

Edit 1. Strengthened Condition $3$. The function

$$ \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\ni D=\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\delta_{\bp}\mapsto \eC_0(D):=m(D)\delta_{C(D)} \in \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\tag{$\ast$}, $$

where

$$ m(D) :=\left(\sum_{\bp} m(\bp)\right) ,\;\; c(D)= \frac{1}{m(D)}\sum_{\bp} m(\bp) \bp, $$

satisfies all the above $5$ conditions. The Weak Claim states that this is the only function satisfying these conditions.

Edit 2. I took into account Deanne's comments and I was able to prove the following version of the above claim.

PROPOSITION. There exists exactly one map $\eC:\Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)\to \Div_{\geq 0}(\bR^N)$ satisfying the following conditions.

(Localization.) The support of $\eC(D)$ consists of a single point.

(Conservation of mass.)

$$ m\bigl( D\bigr)=m\bigl(\;\eC(D)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D\in \Div_{\geq 0}$$

(Normalization.)$\newcommand{\bq}{\boldsymbol{q}}$ $$\eC(m\delta_{\bp}) =m\delta_{\bp},\;\; \eC(\delta_{\bp}+\delta_{\bq})=2\delta_{\frac{1}{2}(\bp+\bq)}. $$

(Additivity.)

$$\eC(D_1+D_2)=\eC\bigl(\;\eC(D_1)+\eC(D_2)\;\bigr),\;\;\forall D_1,D_2\in\Div_{\geq 0}. $$

You can find a proof here.

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