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Questions tagged [isometries]

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Where to begin in Computational Group Theory?

I'm coding a small application that looks for periodic solutions to the gravitational n-body problem. I'm trying to better understanding the symmetries of solutions, which is made up of the product of ...
G. Fougeron's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
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Isometry group of a left-invariant Riemannian metric on $\mathrm{SU}(2)$

Recall that \begin{equation} \mathbb{S}^3=\operatorname{SU}(2)=\left\{ \begin{pmatrix} z&w\\ -\bar{w}&\bar{z} \end{pmatrix} ,|z|^2+|w|^2=1 \right\} \end{...
Adterram's user avatar
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Proving that Euclidean Jordan algebra automorphisms are orthogonal symmetric cone automorphisms

Recall the setting of, Jacques Faraut and Adam Korányi. Analysis on Symmetric Cones. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1994. ISBN 9780198534778. Namely, suppose that, $\left(V,\circ,\left<\cdot,\cdot\...
Michael Orlitzky's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
129 views

$\operatorname{Hess}r$ is scalar matrix $\implies$ $M$ is isometric to the space form

I'm trying to prove the rigidity part of a theorem in my paper, which requires the use of the classical Hessian comparison theorem's rigidity part: $$\DeclareMathOperator\sn{sn}\operatorname{Hess}r=\...
HeroZhang001's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
221 views

Unitary versus isometric operators

Let $\mathbb H$ be a Hilbert space, and let $\mathcal B(\mathbb H)$ be the space of bounded operators on $\mathbb H$, equipped with the operator-norm topology. Let $\mathbb R\ni t\mapsto A(t)\in \...
Bazin's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
92 views

Instantaneous rotation field in relation to a developable surface

I have a ruled surface, let it be given by $\Sigma: U \subset \mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$ parametrized by $(u,v)$ with the rulings along the $u$-lines. Now, let $X: U \subset \mathbb{R}^2 \...
RWien's user avatar
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Are two metric spaces isometric if they have the same $\varepsilon$-covering and $\varepsilon$-packing numbers for all $\varepsilon>0$?

Let $(X, d)$ be a compact metric space. We say that $\{x_1, \cdots, x_n\} \subseteq X$ is an $\varepsilon$-covering of $X$ if for any $x \in X$, there exists $i \in \{1, \ldots, n\}$ such that $d(x, ...
Akira's user avatar
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10 votes
4 answers
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Palais's and Kobayashi's theorems on automorphism groups of geometric structures

My question concerns two results in the neighborhood of the standard theorem of Myers-Steenrod that isometry groups of Riemannian manifolds are Lie groups. Both appear in the first chapter of ...
Chris Wendl's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
259 views

Are two metric spaces isometric if they have the same $\varepsilon$-covering numbers for all $\varepsilon>0$?

Let $(E, d)$ be a metric space. For $\varepsilon>0$, we define two notions of $\varepsilon$-covering number as follows, i.e., $N_\varepsilon^o (E)$ is the smallest number of open balls whose radii ...
Akira's user avatar
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Is every 1-Lipschitz homeomorphism $f:X\to X$ from a compact metric space to itself an isometry?

I found a statement involving a homeomorphism $f:X\to X$ of a compact metric space $X$, with Lipshitz coefficient 1, i.e., a non-expansive map, and cannot think of an example where $f$ is not an ...
Saúl RM's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
257 views

Are polyhedra with equilateral triangular faces rigid?

Convex polyhedra are rigid by Cauchy’s theorem. Steffen’s polyhedron is an example of a non-convex polyhedron that is flexible (i.e., non-rigid). However, it appears to have edges of different lengths....
Hussein's user avatar
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1 answer
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If $X,X'$ have the same $\varepsilon$-packing numbers and $f:X \to X'$ surjective $1$-Lipschitz, then $f$ is an isometry

Let $(X, d)$ be a compact metric space. We say that $\{x_1, \cdots, x_n\} \subseteq X$ is an $\varepsilon$-covering of $X$ if for any $x \in X$, there exists $i \in \{1, \ldots, n\}$ such that $d(x, ...
Akira's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
370 views

Does the isometry group determine the Riemannian metric?

Suppose $G \subset \text{Iso}(M)$ is a Lie group acting smoothly on a (pseudo-)Riemannian manifold $(M, g)$. Then $G$ induces a Lie algebra of Killing vectors on $M$. In this paper by Goenner and ...
Katerina's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
293 views

All-set-homogeneous spaces

This is a follow-up to the question of Joseph O'Rourke Which metric spaces have this superposition property? A metric space $X$ will be called all-set-homogeneous if for any subset $A\subset X$ any ...
Anton Petrunin's user avatar
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1 answer
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Are the ideals in two $C^*$-algebras the same?

Let $V_{1}, V_{2}$ be the commuting isometries. By Wold decomposition theorem, we know that $V_{i}$ admits decomposition $$V_i \cong V^s_{i}\oplus V^{u}_{i},$$ where $V^{s}_{i}$ is the shift and $V^{u}...
Andy's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
300 views

Isometries of Hilbert space

It is easy to see that for any $x$ and $y$ on the unit sphere of a Hilbert space $H$ there exists a surjective isometry $U$ such that $Ux=y$. Does something more general also hold? That is, given two ...
Markus's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
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What is the minimum $n$ for which $\Bbb H^3$ can be isometrically embedded in $\Bbb R^n$ as a bounded set?

Consider the hyperbolic $3$-space $\Bbb H^3$ (i.e., the unique, simply-connected, $3$-dimensional complete Riemannian manifold with a constant negative sectional curvature equal to $-1$). The Nash ...
Random's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
341 views

A space isometric to $\ell_\infty^2$

Consider a norm on $\mathbb C^2$ as $\|(z_1,z_2)\|:=\max\{|z_1|,|z_2|,\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}|z_1+iz_2|\}.$ Question. Is $(\mathbb C^2,\|.\|)$ linearly isometric to $(\mathbb C^2,\|.\|_{\infty})$ where $\|(...
A beginner mathmatician's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
339 views

What is an example of two Banach spaces $X,Y$ such that $X$ embeds isometrically but not linearly into $Y$?

By a result of Godefroy and Kalton if $X,Y$ are separable Banach spaces and $X$ embeds isometrically into $Y$, then $X$ embeds with a linear isometry into $Y$. Is this result known to fail for ...
TopologicalDynamitard's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
284 views

Fixed points on spherical buildings

A crucial aspect of the Bruhat–Tits theory of affine buildings is the Bruhat–Tits fixed-point theorem, which, in one of many formulations, states that, if $\Gamma$ is a group of isometries of an ...
LSpice's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
629 views

Realizing mapping classes as isometries?

Let $\phi : M \to M$ be a diffeomorphism. Is there a metric $g$ on $M$ and a diffeomorphism $\psi$ isotopic to $\phi$ so that $\psi$ is an isometry with respect to $g$? I'm guessing the answer is no,...
user101010's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
334 views

Can a knotted sphere isometrically embed into $\mathbb R^3$?

All smooth simple closed curves in $\mathbb R^3$ (knotted or not) can be isometrically embedded into $\mathbb R^2$ as a circle of equal arclength. The situation for knotted spheres seems more ...
Christian Bueno's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
320 views

What are examples of "perfect tensors"?

A "perfect tensor" is defined on the nLab very abstractly as "its tensor/hom-adjuncts $V^{\otimes k} \to V^{\otimes n - k}$ for $k \le n/2$ are isometries". The only example I'm ...
unknown's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
244 views

Isometry between Minkowski space and Tangent space in an article by Stefan Waldmann [closed]

In the notes Geometric Wave Equations by Stefan Waldmann at page 70 they have Having a fixed Lorentz metric $g$ on a spacetime manifold $M$ we can now transfer the notions of special relativity, ...
amilton moreira's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
115 views

Isometric embeddings of $c_0$ into metric spaces

Are there any nice and useful criteria or theorems which assert when a given metric space $M$ contains an isometric (not necessarily linear) copy of the Banach space $c_0$ or its unit ball $B_{c_0}$? (...
Damian Sobota's user avatar
16 votes
5 answers
904 views

Which metric spaces have this superposition property?

Let $A \subset X$ and $B \subset X$ be two isometric subsets of a metric space $X$. So there is an isometry $f: A \to B$. Say that a metric space $X$ has the superposition property (my terminology) ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
523 views

Stochastic Integral + conditional expectation

Let $\overline{\widehat{Z}_i} = \frac{E_i\left[ \int_{t_i}^{t_{i+1}}\widehat{Z}_sds\right] }{\Delta t_i}$ with $\widehat{Z}$ a square integrable process, $\Delta t_i := t_{i+1} - t_i$, and $E_i$ ...
freshst4r's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
135 views

Does a lifted functor on $\mathbf{1Met}$ preserve isometries?

Let $\mathbf{1Met}$ denote the category of metric spaces with distance bounded by $1$ and nonexpansive maps ($1$-Lipschitz functions). I call isometry a distance-preserving map (some people require it ...
ralphS16's user avatar
25 votes
6 answers
3k views

Isometric embedding of SO(3) into an euclidean space

Consider $SO(3)$ with its bi-invariant metric and $R^n$ the euclidean space of dimension $n$. What is the minimal value of $n$ such that there exists an isometric embedding $f: SO(3) \to R^n$?
Mauro Patrão's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
2k views

Uniform distribution of points on Riemannian manifolds

Recently, I came across a beautiful paper by Arnol'd and Krylov (Uniform distribution of points on a sphere...) that contains the following theorem: Theorem: Let A and B be two rotations of the ...
José Navarro's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
602 views

Separable Banach spaces isometric to quotient of a Banach space

We know that every separable Banach space is isometrically isomorphic to a quotient space of $(\ell^1,\|.\|_1)$. We also know that the norm defined by $\|x\|=(\|x\|_1^2+\|x\|_2^2)^{1/2}$ for all $x\in ...
Anupam's user avatar
  • 585
22 votes
6 answers
1k views

Under what conditions $\|x-y\|=n\iff\|f(x)-f(y)\|=n.$ for $n\in\mathbf{N}$ implies isometry?

Let $X, Y$ be normed space and $f:X\to Y$ be a mapping. Assume that for all $n\in\mathbf{N}$, $$\|x-y\|=n\iff\|f(x)-f(y)\|=n.$$ Under what conditions this map will be an isometry? Thanks
user62498's user avatar
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14 votes
1 answer
925 views

What are the applications of the Mazur-Ulam Theorem?

Every bijective isometry between normed spaces is affine. This well-known and beautiful statement, the Mazur-Ulam Theorem, was proved in 1932, but the proof has been simplified and polished in years, ...
Pietro Majer's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Isometry group of a compact hyperbolic surface

Consider a compact surface $M$ of genus $g \geq 2$ with a metric of constant negative curvature. My question is, is it known under what sorts of sufficient conditions such a metric will have non-...
user82102's user avatar
  • 133
20 votes
2 answers
1k views

If all balls at $x$ and $y$ are isometric is there an isometry sending $x$ to $y$?

Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space and $x,y \in X$. Assume that for all $r > 0$ the balls $B_r(x)$ and $B_r(y)$ are isometric. Is it true that there exists an isometry of $X$ sending $x$ to $y$?
Wolfgang Spindeler's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
187 views

Does there exist an isometry between a regular polygon and a circle?

In order to define the question in a meaningful fashion, I am referring to a smooth manifold $\mathcal{M}$ within an $\epsilon$-neighborhood of a regular polygon $\mathcal{P}$ satisfying $$\max\{\|x-p\...
Talmsmen's user avatar
  • 547
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Isometry group of pseudo Riemannian manifold always a Lie group? (Myers-Steenrod)

Myers-Steenrod states that the isometry group of a Riemannian manifold is a Lie group. Is that also true for pseudo Riemannian manifolds? I didn't find anything related to that. Cheers
Stephan Meier's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
304 views

3D similarities and quaternions?

As is well-known, in dimension 2, a linear map $f : \mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2$ is a direct similarity if, once we identify $\mathbb{R}^2$ with $\mathbb{C}$, $f$ is of the form $$\forall z \...
Goulifet's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
967 views

Tweetable way to see Riemannian isometries are harmonic?

$\newcommand{\al}{\alpha}$ $\newcommand{\euc}{\mathcal{e}}$ $\newcommand{\Cof}{\operatorname{Cof}}$ $\newcommand{\Det}{\operatorname{Det}}$ Smooth Riemannian isometries are harmonic. Can one conclude ...
Asaf Shachar's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there a global obstruction for a diffeomorphism to be an isometry?

Let $V$ be a finite dimensional vector space. Let us call an automorphism $T:V\rightarrow V$ admissible if there exists an inner product $\langle , \rangle$ on $V$ making $T$ an isometry. We know $T$...
Asaf Shachar's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
318 views

Doubly-stochastic partial-isometric matrices

An $n\times n$ matrix $A$ with nonegative real entries $a_{ij}$ is said to be doubly stochastic if $\sum_{i=1}^na_{ij} = 1$, for all $j$, and $\sum_{j=1}^na_{ij}=1$, for all $i$. Much is known [1] ...
Ruy's user avatar
  • 2,263
8 votes
2 answers
602 views

If $E\oplus_\phi E \cong E\oplus_\psi E,$ does it imply that $\phi= \psi$?

Let $E\neq \{0\}$ be a Banach space. For each $p\in[1,\infty), $ we define $$E\oplus_p E = \{(x,y): x\in E, y\in E, \|(x,y)\| = \sqrt[p]{\|x\|^p + \|y\|^p}\}.$$ Let $F$ be another Banach space. By $E\...
Idonknow's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
454 views

Pogorelov's rigidity theorem vs Cohn-Vossen rigidity theorem

There is the following rigidity theorem of Cohn-Vossen as stated on p. 86 of these lecture notes: http://www.math.brown.edu/~deigen/chern.pdf Any isometry between two closed smooth convex surfaces (...
asv's user avatar
  • 21.8k
17 votes
2 answers
1k views

Are there some intrinsic invariants of surfaces other than Gaussian curvature?

The principal curvatures of a surface is denoted by $\kappa_{1}, \kappa_{2}$. Let $P(x,y)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients. Assume that $P(\kappa_{1}, \kappa_{2})$ is an intrinsically ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
517 views

Local isometry implies covering map: nonempty boundary case [closed]

The following theorem is well known in the literature: Let $M$ and $N$ be riemannian manifolds and let $f : M \to N$ be a local isometry. If $M$ is complete and $N$ is connected, then $f$ is a ...
Eduardo Longa's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
143 views

Ideal Ford domain (for finite index subgroup)

Let $G$ be a lattice Fuchsian group with parabolic elements, seen as a discrete subgroup of matrices $ g= \begin{pmatrix} \alpha & \overline{\beta} \\ \beta & \overline{\alpha} \end{pmatrix} $...
user178149's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
113 views

Isometric stratification preserves volume?

Let $K\subset \mathbb{R}^k$ be a non-empty compact subset let $f:K \to K$ be Lipschitz and surjective. If, moreover, $f$ is an isometry then clearly $f$ preserves the Lebesgue measure of $K$. I ...
ABIM's user avatar
  • 5,405
4 votes
0 answers
101 views

Isometries of fiber bundles

Let $F\to S\overset{\pi}{\to} B$ a Riemannian submersion with totally geodesic fibers. Question: How much information about the isometries of $S$ we have if we know the isometries of $F$ and $B$? For ...
Dinisaur's user avatar
  • 223
3 votes
0 answers
104 views

Every partial isometry extends

I am interested in metric spaces $X$ where every isometry between two subsets of the space extends to a full isometry $X \to X$. Is there a name for this kind of space? Is there some paper which ...
James's user avatar
  • 31
6 votes
1 answer
185 views

Cohn-Vossen rigidity theorem in hyperbolic space

There is the following rigidity theorem of Cohn-Vossen as stated on p. 86 of these lecture notes: http://www.math.brown.edu/~deigen/chern.pdf Any isometry between two closed smooth convex surfaces in ...
asv's user avatar
  • 21.8k