Questions tagged [geometric-measure-theory]
Questions about geometric properties of sets using measure theoretic techniques; rectifiability of sets and measures, currents, Plateau problem, isoperimetric inequality and related topics.
287 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
43
votes
0
answers
819
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A kaleidoscopic coloring of the plane
Problem. Is there a partition $\mathbb R^2=A\sqcup B$ of the Euclidean plane into two Lebesgue measurable sets such that for any disk $D$ of the unit radius we get $\lambda(A\cap D)=\lambda(B\cap D)=\...
- 41.8k
38
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Converse of the Archimedean property of the sphere
In his remarkable book On the Sphere and Cylinder, where he came tantalizingly close to discovering calculus, Archimedes showed that the area of the portion of the sphere contained between a pair of ...
- 7,149
27
votes
1
answer
1k
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The dual of $\mathrm{BV}$
$\DeclareMathOperator\BV{BV}\DeclareMathOperator\SBV{SBV}$I'm going to let $\BV := \BV(\mathbb{R}^d)$ denote the space of functions of bounded variation on $\mathbb{R}^d$. My question concerns the ...
- 683
16
votes
0
answers
616
views
Isoperimetric inequality and geometric measure theory
The following version of the isoperimetric inequality can be easily deduced from the Brunn-Minkowski inequality:
Theorem. If $K\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ is compact, then $$ |K|^{\frac{n-1}{n}}\leq n^{-1}...
- 28k
15
votes
0
answers
510
views
Lebesgue density 1/2 (or bounded away from 0 and 1)
From the work of Preiss, we know that in infinite-dimensional spaces, one has violations of the Lebesgue density theorem. In particular, he has constructed examples of probability spaces where a set ...
- 6,541
15
votes
0
answers
1k
views
A Kakeya-like problem: must a union of annuli fill the plane?
Let $S$ be a subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ with the following property. For all $x \in \mathbb{R}^2$ and $\varepsilon \gt 0$, there exists a nontrivial interval $[a,b] \subseteq [1-\varepsilon,1]$, such ...
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14
votes
0
answers
632
views
Are harmonic mappings non-singular outside a set of measure zero?
Let $g$ be a smooth Riemannian metric on the closed $n$-dimensional unit disk $\mathbb D^n$.
Let $f: \mathbb D^n \to \mathbb{R}^n$ be a smooth orientation-preserving immersion, and let $\omega :\...
- 6,741
13
votes
0
answers
447
views
The original Erdős-Volkmann ring problem
The Erdős-Volkmann ring problem and its solution are famous, but the original problem is actually still open. I'll describe this and a related problem from geometric measure theory, I think both of ...
- 1,689
10
votes
0
answers
802
views
Topological dimension, Hausdorff dimension, and Lipschitz mappings
I can prove the following result. Here $\operatorname{dim} X$ stands for the topological dimension and $\mathcal{H}^n$ denotes the Hausdorff measure.
Theorem. Suppose that $f:\mathbb{R}^n\supset\...
- 28k
10
votes
0
answers
464
views
Reference for sets of locally finite perimeter on Riemannian manifolds
I am looking for a reasonably complete reference for Ennio De Giorgi's theory of sets of locally finite perimeter (also christened by him as Caccioppoli sets, after Renato Caccioppoli's pioneering ...
- 7,817
10
votes
0
answers
172
views
Maximizing an integral w.r.t. a measure on the unit sphere
I would like to know if the answer to the following question is known.
Let $d \ge 3$. What is the value of
$$
\theta(d) := \max_{\mu} \int_{S^{d-1}} \int_{S^{d-1}} \cdots \int_{S^{d-1}} |x_1 \...
- 980
10
votes
0
answers
265
views
Plank invariant measures on convex bodies
Let $K\subset R^2$ be a convex body, i.e., a compact convex set with interior points. A plank $P$ is the region between a pair of parallel lines in $R^2$. Let us say that $P$ intersects $K$ properly ...
- 7,149
9
votes
0
answers
202
views
approximation of currents
Let $M$ be a closed Riemannian manifold of dimension $d$. Let $d \alpha$ be a smooth exact $p$-form. We define a current $T_{d \alpha}$ as follows : for any smooth $(d-p)$-form $\beta$ we set
$$ T_{d \...
- 91
9
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Existence of barycenter
Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space. A barycenter of a Borel probability measure $\mu$ on $X$ is a minimizer of the function
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
f \colon X & \to \mathbb{R}\\
x &\mapsto \...
- 1,347
8
votes
0
answers
414
views
For $f$ Lipschitz with $|\nabla f| = 1$ a.e., what is the supremal Hausdorff dimension of the set on which $\varepsilon< |\nabla f| < 1-\varepsilon$?
Let $f$ be a Lipschitz function with $|\nabla f| = 1$ almost everywhere.
Let $\varepsilon \geq 0$. What is the supremal Hausdorff dimension of the set on which $f$ is differentiable with $\varepsilon &...
- 6,155
7
votes
0
answers
493
views
A locally compact, complete metric space in which the closure of open balls coincide with the closed ball is Heine-Borel
I saw the following result stated without a proof in a paper about the isometry group of metric measure spaces:
Let $X$ be a locally compact, complete metric space such that for all $x \in X$ and $R &...
- 99
7
votes
0
answers
492
views
Applications of the co-area formula
Kirchheim [2] generalized the classical area formula to the case of Lipschitz mappings into metric spaces. Ths paper is well known and widely cited. The area formula is a special case of the co-area ...
- 28k
7
votes
0
answers
964
views
When are Lipschitz functions dense in continuous functions?
Let $X$ be a compact metric space, and let $Y$ be another metric space.
I am looking for examples of, and especially references to, theorems that give conditions under which any continuous mapping $f:...
- 71
7
votes
1
answer
233
views
Hausdorff dimension and sigma finiteness
If a function $ f : \mathbf{R} \to \mathbf{R} $ is $\mathscr{C}^{0,\alpha}$ for every $ 0 < \alpha < 1 $ then its graph has Hausdorff dimension $1$.
I would like to see an example of such a ...
- 541
6
votes
0
answers
130
views
Do there exist strictly contracting eikonal functions on $\mathbb R^n$?
A function $f: \mathbb R^n \to \mathbb R$ is said to be a strict contraction if
$$|f(x) - f(y)| < |x - y|$$
for all $x \neq y$.
A function $f$ is said to be eikonal if it is differentiable ...
- 6,155
6
votes
0
answers
309
views
Have we discovered constructions for natural fractional dimensional spheres?
I have been thinking about a couple different problems in fractal geometry (including I one deleted because it was ill posed) and realize they all depend in a fundamental way on the problem of: Can we ...
- 2,689
6
votes
0
answers
271
views
Existence of a limit of alpha-difference quotient for Hölder functions
Let $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}^d,d\geq 1,$ be an Hölder function with exponent $\alpha\in (0,1)$, meaning that
\begin{equation}
\sup_{x, y \in \mathbb R, \,x\neq y}\frac{|f(x)-f(y)|}{|x-y|^\alpha}<...
- 61
6
votes
0
answers
156
views
Topological properties of the dual of differential forms
Notation:
$U \subset R^n$, bounded open set
$D^k(U) = \{ \omega : U \to \Lambda^k R^n : \text{compactly supported and infinitely differentiable \}}$
$D_k(U) = D^k(U)'$ is the topological dual space (...
- 203
6
votes
0
answers
279
views
Preiss' theorem on Riemannian manifolds
This may be a silly question as it seems one of the several Euclidean results in that carry over to Riemannian manifolds by passing in coordinates, but I suspect that the issue is subtler, and I am ...
- 3,223
6
votes
0
answers
249
views
Do asymptotically conformal maps converge to a weakly conformal map?
$\newcommand{\CO}{\text{CO}_2}$
$\newcommand{\SO}{\text{SO}_2}$
$\newcommand{\dist}{\text{dist}}$
$\newcommand{\M}{\mathcal{M}}$
$\newcommand{\N}{\mathcal{N}}$
Let $\M,\N$ be two-dimensional smooth, ...
- 6,741
6
votes
0
answers
240
views
Minimizing area in relative homology class
A well known result in geometric measure theory asserts that if $(M^{n+1}, g)$ is a closed Riemannian manifold and $\alpha \in H_n(M)$ is a nonzero homology class, then there exists a closed embedded ...
- 2,095
6
votes
0
answers
215
views
Analytic sets are rectifiable
I am looking for a reference on the statement that real analytic sets (i.e. sets in the form
$u^{-1}(0)$ where $0\not\equiv u:E\subset \mathbb{R}^n\to \mathbb{R}$ is analytic, or finite intersections ...
- 211
6
votes
0
answers
171
views
The distributional gradient of the closest isometry to the differential of a smooth map
The setting-a "linear algebra" fact:
Let $A$ be a real $n \times n$ matrix, and suppose that $\det A<0$ and that the singular values of $A$ are distinct. Then, there exist a unique matrix $Q(A) \...
- 6,741
6
votes
0
answers
239
views
Sheaves on Rectifiable Sets
Basic question: are there (co)homological or sheaf-based tools which might be useful in geometric measure theory?
Background: The jumping off point here is a simple analogy - geometric measure ...
6
votes
0
answers
156
views
Does an 8 dimensional compact Riemannian manifold contain an embedded minimal hypersurface?
It is well know that if $(M^{n+1},g)$ is a compact Riemannian manifold and $n \leq 6$ then there exists a smooth, embedded minimal hypersurface $\Sigma^n$ in $M$ (infinitely many such $\Sigma$, even)
...
- 1,179
6
votes
0
answers
388
views
What’s the limit of a vector bundle?
In geometric measure theory, there’s an answer to the question “what’s the limit of a family of submanifolds”, namely there’s some kind of object called an integral current.
In the geometric ...
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6
votes
0
answers
170
views
A relation of convergence in Hilbert scheme to convergence in sense of currents
Let $\{X_i\}$ be a sequence of closed irreducible $k$-dimensional subvarieties of $\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^n$ of degree $d$ (they may be assumed to be smooth if necessary). Assume that this sequence ...
- 21.8k
6
votes
0
answers
113
views
Does the Hodge *-operator act on the tangent space at 0 to the space of integral (n-1)-cycles in a conformal manifold of dimension d=2n?
Suppose $M$ is a compact, oriented conformal manifold of even dimension $d=2n$.
Write ${\cal D}^{\mathit{int}}_{k}(M)$ for the space of integral
$k$-currents in $M$
and write ${\cal D}^{\mathit{int}}...
- 351
6
votes
0
answers
190
views
Measure-minimizing simplex with fixed inradius
Let $\Delta^n$ be an $n$-simplex in $\mathbb{R}^n$. Let $V$ be the volume and $r$ the inradius (radius of the inscribed sphere) of $\Delta^n$. There is a well-known result that
$$
V \geq \frac{n^{n/2}(...
- 73
6
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Are planar Lipschitz curves countable unions of graphs?
More precisely:
Question:
Let $\gamma \colon [0,1] \to \mathbb{R}^2$ be Lipschitz. Do there exist Borel (or Suslin) sets $A_i \subset \mathbb{R}^2$ and directions $v_i \in \mathbb{R}^2$, for ...
- 3,270
6
votes
1
answer
896
views
Flat norm metrizes the weak* topology
I've come across the following statement in literature (without proof or reference) about the flat norm of currents
$$
F(T) = \sup \{ T(\omega) : \omega \in D^k(U), |\omega(x)| \leq 1, |d\omega(x)| \...
5
votes
0
answers
415
views
Extending Gromov's inequality
In 1981 Gromov proved that all Riemannian metrics on the complex projective space $\mathbb CP^n$ satisfy the bound
$$\DeclareMathOperator{stsys}{stsys} \DeclareMathOperator{vol}{vol}
\frac{\stsys_2^n}{...
- 16.6k
5
votes
0
answers
114
views
Varifold convergence of images of Sobolev maps
Suppose I have a sequence of maps $\{f_k:\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^{n+1}\}$ such that:
$f_k\rightharpoonup f_*$ weakly in $W^{1,p}(\Omega,\mathbb{R}^{n+1})$,
The images $\Sigma_k:...
- 221
5
votes
0
answers
132
views
Regularity of the spherical mean of a compactly-supported function
The problem
Consider a $C²$ function $f: X \to \mathbb{R}$, for some compact set $X \subset \mathbb{R}^d$ with $C^1$ boundary, say $\partial X$. I am only interested in $d\in \{2,3\}$.
Then, consider ...
- 555
5
votes
1
answer
504
views
Tangent cones at zero and infinity to minimal surfaces
Let $n \geq 2$, and let $M^n \subset \mathbf{R}^{n+1}$ be a minimal surface with $0 \in M$ and finite ($n$-dimensional) area growth:
$\operatorname{limsup}_{R \to \infty} R^{-n} \lVert M \cap B_R \...
- 5,038
5
votes
0
answers
261
views
Laplacian spectrum and measured Gromov-Hausdorff convergence of Riemannian manifolds with boundary
In the paper "Collapsing of Riemannian manifolds and eigenvalues of Laplace operator" by Kenji Fukaya, it is proven that the spectrum of the Laplacian is continuous with respect to measured ...
- 409
5
votes
0
answers
252
views
How far can a continuous, almost everywhere differentiable function be from being a Sobolev function?
Let $\Omega$ be the open unit ball in $\mathbb R^n$. Consider the set $\mathcal D$ of continuous functions $f:\Omega \to \mathbb R$ that are differentiable a.e, and with $|\nabla f| \leq 1$ wherever $...
- 6,155
5
votes
0
answers
130
views
Minimal cones and homology spheres
Let $\Sigma \subset \mathbf{S}^{n}$ be a codimension one, embedded minimal surface in the round $n$-dimensional sphere. Let moreover $\mathbf{C} = \mathbf{C}(\Sigma)$ be the minimal cone in $\mathbf{R}...
- 5,038
5
votes
0
answers
165
views
Singularities of phase interfaces in closed surfaces
Let $(\Sigma,g)$ be a compact surface without boundary. Given $\epsilon > 0$, the $\epsilon$-Allen-Cahn equation is the semilinear elliptic PDE $\epsilon \Delta_g u - \epsilon^{-1} W'(u) = 0$, with ...
- 5,038
5
votes
0
answers
131
views
Is Sobolev limit of bijective maps surjective?
This is a cross-post.
Let $\Omega_1,\Omega_2 \subseteq \mathbb R^2$ be open, connected, bounded, with non-empty $C^1$ boundaries. Let $f_n:\bar\Omega_1 \to \bar\Omega_2$ be $C^1$ be bijective maps ...
- 6,741
5
votes
0
answers
140
views
Measure of the boundary of an BV-extension domain: do we have $|\nabla Eu|(\partial \Omega)=0?$
Let $\Omega\subset \Bbb R^d$ be open. The space $BV(\Omega)$ consists in functions $u\in L^1(\Omega)$ with bounded variation, i.e. $|u|_{BV(\Omega) }<\infty$ where
\begin{align}\label{eq:bounded-...
- 1,101
5
votes
0
answers
319
views
Federer's questions on the mass and comass norms
In Federer's book "Geometric measure theory", he says in section 1.8.3 (where $\|\cdot\|$ is the comass norm):
Very little appears to be known about the structure of the convex sets $\wedge^...
- 2,247
5
votes
0
answers
96
views
Isoperimetric profile with obstacle
Fix two open smooth bounded domains $\Omega_-$ and $\Omega_+$ with $\overline{\Omega}_-\subset \Omega_+$ in a complete Riemannian manifold ($\mathbb{R}^n$ is already interesting to me).
I was ...
- 2,478
5
votes
0
answers
198
views
Heuristic and graphic representation of BV functions and their singularities
This question is about some heuristics and graphs of BV functions.
In 1-dimensional setting, two key examples of $BV$ functions $u: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ are
the Heaviside function, whose ...
- 839
5
votes
0
answers
238
views
Is polar decomposition of a smooth map Sobolev?
Motivation:
Let $\mathbb{D}^2$ be the closed unit disk. I am studying the "elastic energy" functional $E(f)=\int_{\mathbb{D}^2} \text{dist}^2(df,\text{SO}_2)$, where $f \in C^{\infty}(\mathbb{D}^2,\...
- 6,741