5
$\begingroup$

Let $f,g:\mathbb{R}^m \to \mathbb{R}^n$ be two smooth functions and let $k$ be a strictly positive integer. Write $f \sim_k g$ if at each point in the domain, the determinants of all $k \times k$ minors of the Jacobians of $f$ and $g$ coincide. This is clearly an equivalence relation; and more generally, one could let $f$ and $g$ be smooth maps of smooth manifolds $X \to Y$, and ask that for each $k$-form $\omega$ on $Y$ the pullbacks $f^*\omega$ and $g^*\omega$ agree as $k$-forms on $X$.

Have such equivalences been studied and given an alternate characterization? Here's the sort of thing I'm looking for: if $k=1$ and we are mapping between Euclidean spaces, $f$ and $g$ must lie in the same orbit of the translation group acting on the codomain. Perhaps there is a similar Lie-theoretic reformulation of $\sim_k$ for maps $X \to Y$ even when $k > 1$?

$\endgroup$
1
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ If $k$-forms have the same pullbacks, then we can make $k$-forms with very small support, take a limit, and find that the maps $f$ and $g$ agree. $\endgroup$
    – Ben McKay
    Jul 6, 2020 at 17:44

1 Answer 1

4
$\begingroup$

First, let me point out that the OP's suggested generalization to arbitrary target manifolds $Y$ of asking that $f^*\omega = g^*\omega$ for all $k$-forms on $Y$, is not equivalent to the question about equality of $k$-by-$k$ minors.

To see this, consider the simplest case, $X = Y=\mathbb{R}^1$ and $k=1$. The general $1$-form is of the form $\omega = h(x)\,\mathrm{d}x$ (where $x:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is the identity function), and $f^*\omega = g^*\omega$ for all $1$-forms $\omega$ is equivalent to $$ h\bigl(f(x)\bigr)f'(x) = h\bigl(g(x)\bigr)g'(x) $$ for all functions $h:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$, which clearly implies that $f(x) = g(x)$ for all $x\in\mathbb{R}$. Meanwhile, $f^*\mathrm{d}x = g^*\mathrm{d}x$ only implies $f'(x) = g'(x)$, which is the same as requiring that all the $1$-by-$1$ Jacobian minors of $f$ and $g$ are equal, which does imply that they differ by an additive constant.

Instead, I think that the natural generalization is that one endows the $n$-manifold $Y$ with a coframing, i.e., a basis $\omega = (\omega^1,\ldots,\omega^n)$ of the $1$-forms on $Y$ (which, of course, requires that $Y$ be parallelizable, in fact, $\omega:TY\to\mathbb{R}^n$ defines a linear isomorphism $\omega_y:T_yY\to\mathbb{R}^n$ for each $y\in Y$) and then require that $$ f^*(\omega^{i_1}\wedge\cdots\wedge\omega^{i_k}) = g^*(\omega^{i_1}\wedge\cdots\wedge\omega^{i_k}) $$ for all $i_1<i_2<\cdots <i_k$.

Even this will generally force some 'finite' equations on $f$ and $g$ if $\omega$ is chosen generally (and the dimension of $X$ is greater than $k$). For a multi-index $I = (i_1,\ldots,i_p)$ with $1\le i_1<i_2<\cdots<i_p\le n$, write $|I|=p$ and $\omega^I$ for $\omega^{i_1}\wedge\cdots\wedge\omega^{i_p}$. Then there will be functions $h^I_J$ on $Y$ such that $$ \mathrm{d}\omega^I = \sum_{|J|=|I|{+}1} h^I_J\,\omega^J. $$ If the functions $h^I_J$ are not constant, and $f$ and $g$ both have differential rank at least $k{+}1$, then applying the exterior derivative to the equations $f^*\omega^I = g^*\omega^I$ for $|I|=k$ will generally force some relations on the functions $f^*h^I_J$ and $g^*h^I_J$. One can avoid this 'problem' by assuming that the functions $h^I_J$ be constants. For example, when one takes the standard coordinate coframing on $Y = \mathbb{R}^n$, one has $h^I_J=0$. More generally, if $Y$ is a Lie group and the $\omega^i$ are a basis for the left-invariant forms on $Y$, then the $h^I_J$ are constants. In this latter case, when $X$ is connected, one will have $f^*\omega^i=g^*\omega^i$ for all $i$ if and only if $g = \lambda_y\circ f$ where $\lambda_y:Y\to Y$ is left multiplication by $y\in Y$ (regarded as a Lie group). So I think that this is the natural generalization of the OP's case of $\mathbb{R}^n$.

Second, let me point out that, if the differential ranks of $f$ and $g$ are both less than $k$ at every point, then, of course, $f^*\omega = g^*\omega=0$ for all all $k$-forms $\omega$ on $Y$, so there is no further condition implied than the rank condition. Thus, to get an interesting problem, one must assume that the differential ranks of $f$ and $g$ are at least $k$ in order to get an interesting theory.

Once one assumes this, there are some reasonable things to say. For example, if one assumes that the differential ranks of $f$ and $g$ are both at least $k$, then the condition $f^*\omega^I = g^*\omega^I$ for all $|I|=k$ implies that $\mathrm{ker}(f'(x)) = \mathrm{ker}(g'(x))\subset T_xX$ and $\omega_x\bigl(f'(x)(T_x)\bigr) = \omega_x\bigl(g'(x)(T_x)\bigr) \subset\mathbb{R}^n$ for all $x\in X$. Moreover, if one sets $K_x = \mathrm{ker}(f'(x)) = \mathrm{ker}(g'(x))\subset T_xX$ and $Q_x = \omega_x\bigl(f'(x)(T_x)\bigr) = \omega_x\bigl(g'(x)(T_x)\bigr) \subset\mathbb{R}^n$, then the induced isomorphisms $$ [f'(x)],[g'(x)]:T_xX/K_x\to Q_x $$ satisfy, for all $x\in X$, $$ E_k\bigl([f'(x)]\bigr) = E_k\bigl([g'(x)]\bigr):E_k(T_xX/K_x)\to E_k(Q_x), $$ where $E_k$ is the '$k$th-exterior power' functor on the category of vector spaces and linear maps.

When the differential ranks of $f$ and $g$ are equal to $k$, this is not a very strong condition, so $f$ and $g$ need not be closely related. For example when $m=n=k$, and $X = Y = \mathbb{R}^k$, then the OP's condition on $f$ and $g$ reduces to the assumption that the $f$- and $g$- pullbacks of the standard volume form on $Y$ are equal, and, of course, there are many such pairs $f$ and $g$ besides the translations.

When the differential ranks of $f$ and $g$ are both greater than $k$, though, this is a much stronger condition. In fact, one finds that, when $k$ is odd, this is equivalent to $[f'(x)] = [g'(x)]$ while, when $k$ is even, this is equivalent to $[f'(x)] = \pm[g'(x)]$. Once one is in this situation, at least when one assumes that the differential ranks of $f$ and $g$ are constant, the Cartan equivalence method can be applied. For example, one has the following result:

Proposition: Suppose that $f,g:\mathbb{R}^m\to\mathbb{R}^n$ are smooth maps of constant differential rank greater than $k\ge1$ and suppose that all their corresponding $k$-by-$k$ Jacobian minors are equal. If $k$ is odd, then $g = c + f$ where $c\in\mathbb{R}^n$ is a constant. If $k$ is even, then $g = c \pm f $ where $c\in\mathbb{R}^n$ is a constant.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Every time I read this answer, I learn something more. Thank you for taking the time to set everything down so carefully, and moreover, for answering the question that I should have asked! $\endgroup$ Aug 22, 2020 at 20:19

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.