Questions tagged [isometries]
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106 questions
6
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Laplace-Beltrami and the isometry group
H$\vphantom{a}$i. Consider the Laplacian on $\mathbb R^n$,
$$
\Delta=\partial_i^2
$$
It is easy to prove that the most general differential operator that commutes with rotations and translations is ...
6
votes
2
answers
208
views
Are all symmetries of the Dirichlet functional isometries?
This is a cross-post from MSE (no answer there).
Let $M,N$ be oriented $d$-dimensional Riemannian manifolds, $M$ compact*, and let $f:M \to N$ be smooth.
Consider the Dirichlet energy functional: $...
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1
vote
2
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383
views
Conformal harmonic maps in high dimensions are scaled isometries
This is a cross-post from MSE (where I got no answer).
It is well-known that conformal maps between $2$-dimensional Riemannian manifolds are harmonic.
I discovered lately that in dimension $d>2$, ...
- 6,741
14
votes
2
answers
506
views
Do curvature differences obstruct a.e orientation-preserving isometries?
Is there an example of a pair $M,N$ of connected, oriented equidimensional Riemannian manifolds with the following properties:
$M$ is everywhere non-flat, $N$ is flat.
There exist a map $f:M \to N$ ...
- 6,741
1
vote
1
answer
345
views
What is general expression for the moment map of a Kaehler Hamiltonian G-manifold
A Kaehler Hamiltonian G-manifold is a Kaehler manifold with a Hamiltonian G-action, i.e., a G-action generated by a moment map. In particular, the Killing vector fields which generate the G-action are ...
- 1,155
6
votes
2
answers
379
views
Norms on $\mathbb{R}^d$ whose linear isometries are the hypercube group
It is a known fact that for any $2\neq p\in[1,\infty]$, the linear isometries for the corresponding norm $\|\cdot\|_p$ on $\mathbb{R}^d$ is the set of all square-matrices with entries in $\{-1,1,0\}$, ...
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16
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2
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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 ...
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21
votes
1
answer
1k
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A differentiable isometry is smooth?
I posted this question in MSE but got no response (even after giving a bounty), so I am trying here.
Let $M,N$ be smooth $d$-dimensional Riemannian manifolds.
Suppose $f:M \to N$ is a differentiable ...
- 6,741
2
votes
1
answer
176
views
Homogeneous subsets of the sphere
Let $S$ be a (unit) sphere in a Hilbert Space $H$ with $\dim H \ge 3$. Let $A \subset S$ have the following properties:
$A$ is connected;
The affine hull of $A$ is the whole space;
For every $x,y\in ...
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9
votes
2
answers
499
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There is no arcwise isometry from a high dimensional manifold into a low dimensional manifold
$\newcommand{\al}{\alpha}$
$\newcommand{\ga}{\gamma}$
$\newcommand{\e}{\epsilon}$
Let $X,Y$ be Riemannian manifolds, such that $\dim(X) > \dim(Y)$.
I am trying to prove the following statement (...
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7
votes
1
answer
373
views
Are metric isometries smooth at the boundary?
Let $M,N$ be smooth Riemannian manifolds with boundary (In particular, we assume the boundaries are smooth).
Suppose we have a map $\phi:M \to N$ which satisfies the following properties:
$$(1) \, \,...
- 6,741
8
votes
1
answer
320
views
Does nonexpanding map between manifolds decrease volume?
(This question is a special case of a question I asked at SE, which got no answer there)
Let $M,N$ be diffeomorphic connected compact Riemannian manifolds, and let $f:M \to N$ be a surjective ...
- 6,741
1
vote
0
answers
561
views
Bending Beltrami Pseudosphere
The Beltrami Pseudosphere
$$[x = a \sin p \cos t , y= - a ( \cos p + \log \tan p/2 ) , z= b+ a \sin p \sin t \; ], (.1 <p<\pi/2), (0< t< 2 \pi), \; (b>a) $$
is bent to a non-...
- 917
17
votes
2
answers
1k
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Are there some intrinsic invariants of surfaces other than Gaussian curvature?
The principal curvatures of a surface is denoted by $\kappa_{1}, \kappa_{2}$.
Let $P(x,y)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients. Assume that $P(\kappa_{1}, \kappa_{2})$ is an intrinsically ...
- 366
4
votes
1
answer
193
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How isometric action on Riemannian manifold acts on cut locus
Assume that $M$ is a simply connected closed Riemannian manifold with no boundary and nonnegative sectional curvaure Assume that ${\bf Z}_n=(g),\ n\geq 3$ acts on $M$ isometrically. Then if $gx=x$, i....
- 1,100
2
votes
1
answer
261
views
isometric action on the $n$-sphere
Let $S^n$ be the $n$-sphere. If $n=2k+1$ is odd, then we can identify $S^n$ as a subset of $\mathbb{C}^{k+1}$. We define the $S^1$ action on $S^n$ by multiplication, namely
$$ \Psi \colon S^1 \times ...
- 501
1
vote
0
answers
82
views
Finding the infimum using a piecewise isometry
Given a finite set of unit circles in the plane such that the area of their union $U$ is $S$, what is the largest possible bound $kS$ for some constant $k$ such that there exists a subset of mutually ...
- 201
13
votes
3
answers
2k
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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-...
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6
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1
answer
734
views
Are the Sasaki metrics on tangent and cotangent bundle isomorphic?
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold. Then there is the well-known
Sasaki metric that makes $(TM,\hat{g})$ a Riemannian manifold. In a
similar way, one can construct a Sasaki metric $\bar{g}$ on the
...
- 2,481
0
votes
0
answers
109
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Commutator subgroup of rotational symmetries of the hypercube
I would like to know which is the commutator subgroup of the group of rotational isometries of the $n$-dimensional cube. The group i am talking about is the subgroup of $\{ \pm 1 \} \wr S_n$ ...
6
votes
2
answers
483
views
Products of elliptic isometries
A well-known property on groups acting on trees is:
Theorem: Let $T$ be a tree and $g,h \in \mathrm{Isom}(T)$ two elliptic isometries. If $\mathrm{Fix}(g) \cap \mathrm{Fix}(h) = \emptyset$ then the ...
- 2,371
9
votes
1
answer
1k
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Under what conditions a linear automorphism is an isometry of some norm?
Assume $V$ is a finite-dimensional vector space over $\mathbb{R}$, and $T: V \to V$ is a (linear) isomorphism.
When is it possible to construct a norm on $V$
making $T$ an isometry?
(Hopefully,...
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13
votes
3
answers
2k
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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 $T$...
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2
votes
1
answer
172
views
Discrete subgroup of centralizer of transvections in isometries acts properly discontinuously
My question will rely on a clarification of a proof, which I simply don't understand.
Let us denote by $X$ a pseudo-riemannian symmetric space and define
$$
Z_{\mathrm{Iso}\left(X\right)}G(X) = \{\, ...
- 123
13
votes
1
answer
887
views
Isometries of some simple Cayley graphs
Consider a Cayley graph of a group $G$ with respect to a symmetric finite generating set $S$.
There are some obvious candidates to isometries of this graph - for example, translation by elements of $G$...
- 689
1
vote
1
answer
285
views
Obstruction to the existence of global isometries on a constant-curvature Riemannian manifold
Let $M$ be an $m$-dimensional simply connected Riemannian manifold that is not geodesically complete. Suppose $M$ has constant sectional curvature.
Because the curvature is constant, locally $M$ ...
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22
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Under what conditions $\|x-y\|=n\iff\|f(x)-f(y)\|=n.$ for $n\in\mathbf{N}$ implies isometry?
Let $X, Y$ be normed space and $f:X\to Y$ be a mapping. Assume that for all $n\in\mathbf{N}$, $$\|x-y\|=n\iff\|f(x)-f(y)\|=n.$$
Under what conditions this map will be an isometry?
Thanks
- 823
6
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0
answers
691
views
Isometries of Compact Semisimple Lie Groups
In this delightful question, the poster mentioned that the isometry group of a compact Lie group $G$, equipped with the metric from the Killing form, is $G\times G/Z(G)$, where $Z(G)$ is the center of ...
- 779
0
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0
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148
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Symmetries higher dimensional cube fixing subcubes
Which is the group of rotational isometries of an $n$ dimensional hypercube fixing an $m$ dimensional element (an $m$ dimensional subcube)? I know for example that it is $A_n$ for $m=0$ (symmetries ...
8
votes
1
answer
882
views
Gromov-Hausdorff convergence for non-compact metric spaces
Let $(X_i,p_i)$, $(X,p)$ be pointed connected proper metric spaces (i.e. the closures of balls are compact). Are the following two statements equivalent?
$\forall r > 0: \bar{B}_r(p_i) \stackrel{...
- 571
16
votes
1
answer
601
views
If all balls around two points are isometric... -- manifold version
This question is a natural follow-up of this other question, asked earlier today by wspin.
Let's say that a metric space $(X,d)$ has two poles if:
there are two distinct points $x$, $y$ such that ...
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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 $y$?
9
votes
1
answer
321
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When is a continous $\epsilon$-isometry of the sphere surjective?
Equip $\mathbb S^n$ with the standard round metric. Let $f : \mathbb S^n \to \mathbb S^n$ be a continous map satisfying $\vert d(f(x),f(y)) - d(x,y)\vert \leq \epsilon$.
Is $f$ is surjective for all ...
7
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1
answer
1k
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The surjectivity of the exponential map for the isometry group
Little is known on general conditions guaranteeing that the exponential map between a Lie algebra and an associated Lie group is surjective.
Let $M$ be a noncompact connected Riemann manifold, and $G$...
- 5,407
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 $f: SO(3) \to R^n$?
- 251
5
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2
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Isometric embeddings of metric spaces in Hilbert spaces
There are plenty of isometric embeddings of metric spaces in Banach spaces. Nevertheless, I have been unable to find any significant result on isometric embeddings into Hilbert spaces. My question is: ...
- 5,407
11
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1
answer
486
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About Palais' remark that an isometry of Riemannian manifolds does not induce an isometry of the Hilbert manifolds of curves
In the paper ``Morse theory on Hilbert manifolds'' (1963), on page
326, Richard Palais makes a remark that if $\phi\colon V \to W$ is an
isometry (of submanifolds of $\mathbb{R}^n$), then this does ...
- 2,481
12
votes
1
answer
2k
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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
- 123
1
vote
1
answer
177
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Embedding of Two Objects Into Higher Dimensions With Their Sum
Given two vector sets, $\vec x_i$ and $\vec y_i$ (for $i$=1,2,...N, but the dimensionality of each vector can be more than N), let their sum set be $\vec z_i = \vec x_i + \vec y_i$. It's easy to ...
- 1,547
19
votes
2
answers
569
views
Repeated random two-steps in $\mathbb{R}^3$: unbounded?
I created a random isometry $T$ of $\mathbb{R}^3$ by generating
a random orthogonal matrix $M$,
uniformly distributed among all such,
and a random displacement $v$, whose coordinates
are drawn from a ...
- 151k
1
vote
1
answer
206
views
Riemann isometry vs Euclidean bi-Lipschitz mapping
Assume that $\gamma$ is a rectifiable Jordan curve in the complex plane of length $2\pi$. Then there exists a Riemann isometry $f$ between $\gamma$ and the unit circle $T$. My question is, does this ...
- 303
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0
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Surface locally isometric to a sphere.
If for any two points p,q in a regular, compact surface $S\subseteq R^3$, there exists an isometry $f:S\rightarrow S$ s.t. f(p)=q. How to prove that $S$ is locally isometric to the sphere?
- 1
7
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0
answers
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views
Can a closed disc in the plane be partitioned into three disjoint sets which are pair-wise isometric?
Any progress on the following: Can a closed disc in the plane be partitioned into three disjoint sets which are pair-wise isometric, i.e. each set is an image of the others under an isometry?
- 700
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5
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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) ...
- 151k
7
votes
1
answer
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Open problems about CMC hypersurfaces with symmetries?
Recently, Andrews and Li announced a complete classification of CMC ($H=const.$) tori in $S^3$, confirming a conjecture of Pinkall and Sterling. Their main result is that any such torus is ...
- 5,891
2
votes
1
answer
187
views
Partial isometries making families of linearly independent vectors orthogonal
Suppose I have a family of $n$ linearly-independent elements $v_i$ of the Hilbert space $\mathbb{C}^m$, which are not necessarily orthogonal. Can I always find a partial isometry $f: \mathbb{C} ^m \to ...
- 2,513
18
votes
1
answer
980
views
Possible isometries of a positively curved $S^2\times S^2$
Just to put things in perspective, recall that the Hopf Conjecture asks whether $S^2\times S^2$ admits a metric of positive sectional curvature. By the work of Hsiang-Kleiner, it is known that, if $S^...
- 5,891
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vote
2
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All the isometries of $\mathbb{C}^n$ into itself are made like these
This is again a request for references. I'd appreciate a pointer to any published proof of the following:
Proposition. Given $n \in \mathbb{N}^+$, let
$\Phi$ be a function $\mathbb{C}^n
> \to \...
- 10.5k
3
votes
1
answer
1k
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Isometry groups of Riemannian submersions with totally geodesic fibers
Suppose $F\to M\stackrel{\pi}{\to} B$ is a Riemannian submersion with totally geodesic fibers, all manifolds compact. In general, unless $M=B\times F$ is a Riemannian product, the isometry groups of ...
- 5,891
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0
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Surjectively isometric normed spaces: Hamel vs (extended) Schauder dimension
Bonjour/bonsoir à toutes et à tous.
This may really be a very basic question, but... Let $\mathbf{X} \equiv (X, \|\cdot\|_X)$ and $\mathbf{Y} \equiv (Y, \|\cdot\|_Y)$ be surjectively isometric (1) ...
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