All Questions
Tagged with dg.differential-geometry real-analysis
158 questions
28
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Rolle's theorem in n dimensions
This looks like a statement from a calculus textbook, which perhaps it should be.
"Rolle's theorem". Let $F\colon [a,b]\to\mathbb R^n$ be a continuous function such that $F(a)=F(b)$ and $F'(t)$ ...
17
votes
2
answers
750
views
Approximation of smooth diffeomorphisms by polynomial diffeomorphisms?
Is it possible to (locally) approximate an arbitrary smooth diffeomorphism by a polynomial diffeomorphism?
More precisely: Let $f:\mathbb{R}^d\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^d$ be a smooth diffeomorphism for $d&...
- 173
17
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Integrals of pullbacks and the Inverse function theorem(s?)
The usual story goes like this:
Smooth picture (?):
For a smooth bijection $\phi: M \to N$ between $n$-manifolds the following
is true:
$\phi^{-1}$ is a local diffeomorphism a.e.
...
- 7,789
14
votes
2
answers
871
views
Are all maps $\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ with fixed singular values affine?
Let $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ be a smooth map whose differential has fixed distinct singular values $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$ and an everywhere positive determinant (which is the product $\...
- 6,741
14
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is the intersection of two Caccioppoli (i.e. finite perimeter) sets Caccioppoli?
Recall that we say that a bounded measurable set $S\subset\mathbb R^n$ is said to be Caccioppoli if the indicator function $1_S$ is BV, and we set
$$
\operatorname{perim}(S)=\| \nabla 1_S\|_{TV}
$$
...
- 1,247
12
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Understanding the condition $\frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q} = 1$ in the estimate $xy \le \frac{1}{p}x^p + \frac{1}{q}y^q$
I just read a proof of Holder's inequality in measure theory, which boils down to the following inequality:
$$xy \le \frac{1}{p}x^p + \frac{1}{q}y^q$$
where $x,y\ge 0$ and $\frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q} = ...
- 7,527
11
votes
1
answer
451
views
Does every smooth map of rank at most d factor through a d-manifold?
Suppose $d≥0$, $m≥0$, $n≥0$, and $\def\R{{\bf R}} f\colon \R^m→\R^n$ is a smooth map
whose rank at any point of $\R^m$ is at most $d$.
Here and below, smooth means infinitely differentiable.
Can we ...
- 37.8k
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Gluing two diffeomorphisms together
A fundamental construction in a first course on manifolds is to build a smooth function $\psi\colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ with the property that for some $0<\delta<\epsilon$ we have
$\psi(...
- 8,903
10
votes
1
answer
872
views
Current vs Varifold
I know the basic definitions concerning current and varifold, and they are generalization of submanifolds. What are their respective pros and cons? What are their crucial similarities and differences?
- 1,630
9
votes
1
answer
299
views
Can all contours of a function on a disk be made arbitrarily small?
Denote $D=\{x^2+y^2\le1\}\subset\mathbb R^2$ a disk.
Let $f:D\to\mathbb R$ be a continuous function on it. I am interested in restrictions of simple Morse functions on $\mathbb R^2$, but I suspect ...
9
votes
2
answers
777
views
Can the thief escape (from a smooth, simple closed curve)?
Let $C\subset \mathbb{R}^2$ be a smooth, simple closed curve. The thief is inside $C$. Before he starts to move, the police bureau of the $\mathbb{R}^2$ world can freely place countably infinite ...
- 2,619
9
votes
1
answer
733
views
Constructive analysis and synthetic differential geometry
I am curious if (any of) the various inequivalent constructions of the real line in constructive mathematics can be used to build a model of Kock and Lawvere's synthetic differential geometry? In ...
- 6,025
8
votes
1
answer
985
views
Diffeomorphism of an open set and almost all of $\mathbb{R}^n$
(Question reposted from Math Stackexchange)
I am aware of the statement that a open set in $\mathbb{R}^n$, if it is star-like, is diffeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^n$, although this is apparently not so ...
- 81
8
votes
2
answers
452
views
Vector field with constant divergence around embedded submanifold
Let $M$ be a smooth $n$-dimensional manifold and $N\subset M$ be a closed embedded submanifold of codimension at least $2$. Furthermore, let $\mu$ be a volume form on $M$.
Question: Does there ...
- 81
8
votes
0
answers
103
views
Sobolev embedding theorems in vector bundles on non-compact manifolds
Let $(M,g)$ be a smooth (not necessarily compact) Riemannian $n$-manifold. It is well-known that dealing with Sobolev spaces in the general non-compact case becomes tricky, since for instance, there ...
- 1,429
7
votes
2
answers
626
views
Elliptic regularity on manifolds: Is this true?
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold (without boundary) and denote by $\Delta_{g}$ the Laplace-Beltrami operator (or any other elliptic operator if you wish). I was trying to find a reference for the ...
- 1,171
7
votes
2
answers
517
views
Morse lemma with least amount of regularity.
I recently came across with $C^2$ Morse functions in my work and as I was reviewing some of the stuff I learned about Morse theory, I noticed that all the proofs of the Morse lemma I could come across ...
- 1,211
7
votes
3
answers
841
views
Distance function to $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ differentiable at $y\notin\Omega$ implies $\exists$ unique closest point
I am trying to show the following two statements are true:
(1) For any nonempty set $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$, the set $B$ consisting of points $y\notin\Omega$ where there is not a unique closest ...
- 323
7
votes
2
answers
786
views
Riemannian distance functions on the real line
A distance function $d: \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R} \rightarrow [0,\infty)$ that is defined by a smooth Riemannian metric on the real line satisfies the following properties:
$d$ is a length metric (...
- 13.5k
7
votes
1
answer
246
views
Currents in sub-Riemannian geometry
Federer and Fleming's notion of "currents" is well established so far, and starting from the seminal work of Ambrosio and Kirchheim, the notion of metric currents is well studied also. The ...
- 215
6
votes
2
answers
401
views
Intuition and analogue of Wraith axiom from synthetic differential geometry
In synthetic differential geometry, an object $M$ verifies the Wraith axiom if for all functions $\tau:D\times D\to M$ which are constant on the axes $\tau(d,0)=\tau(0,d)=\tau(0,0)$ for all $d\in D$, ...
- 10.5k
6
votes
1
answer
669
views
$C^k$ version of Hadamard's Lemma. Differentiability of the remainder
Let $f:\Omega\to\mathbb{R}$ be of $C^k$ class, let $0\in\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ and let $\Omega$ be star shaped at $0.$
From Hadamard's Lemma we know that we can write function $f$ as
$$f(x)=f(0)+...
- 1,615
6
votes
1
answer
390
views
Equivariant implicit function theorem
Let $f:\mathbb{R}\times \mathbb{R}^{n} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{n}$ be a smooth function and $G\subset \operatorname{SO}(n)$ be a $1$-dimensional compact Lie group (diffeomorphic to the circle). ...
- 63
6
votes
1
answer
183
views
Minimum of $z:\mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}$ along paths implies local minimum of $z$
Suppose we are given a smooth function $z: \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}$, a point $x_0 \in \mathbb{R}^n$ and a set $\mathcal{F}$ consisting of certain paths in $\mathbb{R}^n$, i.e. $f: [0,1] \to \...
- 63
6
votes
1
answer
181
views
Can we approximate a vector field on the plane with non-vanishing vector fields in $W^{1,2}$?
Let $V$ be a compactly-supported vector field on $\mathbb{R}^2$, whose zeros inside some open neighbourhood of the closed unit disk $\mathbb{D}^2$ are isolated.
Does there exist a sequence of ...
- 6,741
6
votes
1
answer
409
views
Can the potential of a complete Kahler metric be bounded?
Let $X$ be a complex manifold and $\omega$ a Kahler form on $X$. A smooth function $\rho$ is called a potential of $\omega$ if $i\partial\bar\partial\rho=\omega$. By intuition, it seems that $\rho$ ...
- 285
6
votes
1
answer
196
views
On elliptic operators on non-compact manifolds
Let $(M,g)$ be a (connected, oriented) Riemannian manifold and $E$ some finite-rank $\mathbb{R}$- or $\mathbb{C}$-vector bundle equipped with some (positive-definite) inner product on the level of (...
- 1,429
6
votes
1
answer
802
views
Approximation of a Sobolev function that has vanishing trace on the reduced boundary of a Caccioppoli (i.e. finite perimeter) set
For $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^N$ open and bounded, let $W^{1,p}(\Omega)$ denote the usual Sobolev space of $L^p(\Omega)$ functions with weak partial derivatives in $L^p(\Omega)$ and $W_0^{1,p}(\Omega)$ ...
- 143
5
votes
4
answers
589
views
Looking for a reference on conformal mapping on $\Bbb R^n$
A mapping $T: \Bbb R^n\to \Bbb R^n$ is said to be conformal if it is bijective and preserves angles, i.e.,
if $x, y: [0,1]\to \Bbb R^n$ are curves with $x(t_0)=y(t_0)$ then
$$\cos (Tx(t_0),Ty(t_0))= \...
- 1,101
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Non-continuous differentiability for differential forms
Generally when working with differential forms, one assumes that they are continuously differentiable, i.e. $C^r$ for some $1\le r \le \infty$. Under this hypothesis, one can define the exterior ...
- 66.8k
5
votes
4
answers
495
views
Integral of the distance function to the boundary of a planar set
I have been stuck for a few days in a seemingly harmless question.
Given a simply connected open set $\Sigma\subset\mathbb{R}^2$, with smooth boundary $\partial\Sigma$, I am interested in estimating
$...
- 165
5
votes
2
answers
565
views
Geometry of Level sets of elliptic polynomials in two real variables
Updated:
A polynomial $P(x,y)\in \mathbb{R}[x,y]$ is called an elliptic polynomial if its last homogeneous part does not vanish on $\mathbb{R}^2\setminus\{0\}$.The two answers to this post provide a ...
- 356
5
votes
3
answers
620
views
Poisson equation on manifolds
Let $(\mathcal{M},g)$ be a compact Riemannian manifold with Levi-Civita connection $\nabla$. It is well-known that the Poisson equation
$$\Delta u=f$$
does have a solution on $C^{\infty}(\mathcal{M})$ ...
- 1,171
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Elementary proof of the uniqueness of smooth structures on $\mathbb{R}$
Is there any 'elementary' proof of the uniqueness of smooth structures on $\mathbb{R}$? By elementary, I mean that the proof does not use any sophisticated topological machinery. In particular, I'm ...
- 895
5
votes
1
answer
374
views
What is the length of an algebraic curve?
The following question seems to be somewhat standard, but I was unable to find any reference. I would be grateful for any pointers to relevant literature.
We consider a real polynomial $p(x,y)$ of ...
- 53
5
votes
1
answer
339
views
Finding vector fields on $S^2$ with equal divergence
Let $\mathfrak{X}_{CK}^{\perp}$ be the space of vector fields on $S^2$ that are $L^2$-orthogonal to conformal Killing vector fields. Let $\mathfrak{X}_{CK}$ be the 6-dimensional space of conformal ...
- 969
5
votes
1
answer
207
views
The Lipschitz constant of convex sphere in $\mathbb{R}^3$
Is every convex sphere (in the sense of Alexandorff, which is the boundary of some convex body in $\mathbb{R}^3$) with Alexandorff curvature $\geq 1$, admitting a bijective map to the unit round ...
- 799
5
votes
1
answer
329
views
Reference for the rectifiablity of the boundary hypersurface of convex open set
The boundary of any convex open set $X$ is $\mathbb R^n$ is a rectifiable hypersurface.
To see this, intuitively, simply take a sphere $S_d$ with diameter $d\in(0,+\infty]$ that contains $X$. The ...
- 263
5
votes
2
answers
560
views
implicit function theorem for algebraic sets
We know by the standard Implicit Function Theorem that
If $f:\mathbb R^4\rightarrow\mathbb
> R^2$ is a polynomial (or in fact any
continuously differentiable function),
then there is a ...
- 1,359
5
votes
1
answer
196
views
What is the "natural" or "physical" norm on the Hessian matrix (and other higher derivatives)?
Let $u : \mathbb R^n \rightarrow \mathbb R$ and let $H : \mathbb R^n \rightarrow \mathbb R^{n \times n}$ be its Hessian matrix. What is the "natural" choice of pointwise norm on the Hessian ...
- 641
5
votes
0
answers
218
views
A differential operator analogy of certain fact in real analysis of smooth functions
Let $E\to M$ be a smooth vector bundle over a smooth manifold $M$.
Let $D$ be a differential operator defined on the space $\Gamma(E)$ of smooth sections of $E$. We fix a section $s\in \Gamma(E)$.
...
- 356
5
votes
0
answers
273
views
Is there any geometrical/homological intuition behind symmetrized gradient?
The gradient/differential/exterior differential/divergence/curl are all strictly related first order differential operators. As far as I understood, they are the base of (co)homological theories in ...
- 980
5
votes
0
answers
240
views
The boundary integral of a harmonic function
Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{n}$ be a bounded
domain with smooth boundary and $f$ be a harmonic function on $\Omega.$
It is known that
$$
\limsup_{\varepsilon\rightarrow0^{+}}\intop_{\partial\Omega_{...
- 53
5
votes
0
answers
280
views
Proving that a certain function (related to a volume of a region) has a bounded derivative
Let $F$ be a homogeneous form in $n$ variables with integer coefficients.
Let $D$ be a closed box in $\mathbb{R}^n$ (product of closed and bounded intervals). Assume that the partial $\partial F/\...
- 3,625
5
votes
0
answers
310
views
Reference for Hodge decomposition
Let $U$ be a bounded open subset of $\mathbb{R}^d$ with Lipschitz boundary, and $g \in L^2(U,\mathbb{R}^d)$ be a solenoidal vector field (i.e. $\nabla \cdot g = 0$). Then $g$ can be written in the ...
- 562
5
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Boundary of an open, bounded and convex set in $\mathbb{R} ^n$
Let $U$ be an open, bounded and convex set in $\mathbb{R} ^n$. Since $\partial U$ is a rectifiable set it follows that up to a set of $H^{n-1}$-measure zero $\partial U$ is contained in a countable ...
4
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Covariant derivative of determinant of the metric tensor
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold and $g$ the Riemannian metric in coordinates $g=g_{\alpha \beta}dx^{\alpha} \otimes dx^{\beta}$, where $x^{i}$ are local coordinates on $M$. Denote by $g^{\alpha \...
- 131
4
votes
1
answer
224
views
When is the cut-locus normal coordinate collared
Let $(M,g)$ be a complete $d$-dimensional Riemannian manifold, $p \in M$ be fixed and let $C_p$ be the cut-locus of $p$.
Other than when $M$ is non-positively curved (in which $C_p=
\emptyset$ by ...
- 5,405
4
votes
1
answer
357
views
Lipschitz function admits Whitney stratification
I've been reading Topological Aspects of Nonsmooth Optimization by Vladimir Shikhman.
There I have found the following observation that:
Lipschitz functions $f : \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}$ admit
...
- 99
4
votes
1
answer
377
views
Differential inequalities under which a flat function must be identically zero
Let $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ be a smooth function which is flat at $0\in \mathbb{R}$. That is $f^{(k)}(0)=0,\; k=0,1,2,\ldots $.
Assume that $|f''(x)|\leq M|f(x)|\quad \forall x\in \mathbb{R}$ ...
- 356