Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Alexander I. Bobenko

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander I. Bobenko.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

On the Lagrangian structure of integrable quad-equations

The new idea of flip invariance of action functionals in multidimensional lattices was recently highlighted as a key feature of discrete integrable systems. Flip invariance was proved for several particular cases of integrable quad-equations by Bazhanov, Mangazeev and Sergeev and by Lobb and Nijhoff. We provide a simple and case-independent proof for all integrable quad-equations. Moreover, we find a new relation for Lagrangians within one elementary quadrilateral which seems to be a fundamental building block of the various versions of flip invariance.

nlin.SI↗

Conformal Structures and Period Matrices of Polyhedral Surfaces

We recall the theory of linear discrete Riemann surfaces and show how to use it in order to interpret a surface embedded in R^3 as a discrete Riemann surface and compute its basis of holomorphic forms on it. We present numerical examples, recovering known results to test the numerics and giving the yet unknown period matrix of the Lawson genus-2 surface.

math.DG↗

A curvature theory for discrete surfaces based on mesh parallelity

We consider a general theory of curvatures of discrete surfaces equipped with edgewise parallel Gauss images, and where mean and Gaussian curvatures of faces are derived from the faces' areas and mixed areas. Remarkably these notions are capable of unifying notable previously defined classes of surfaces, such as discrete isothermic minimal surfaces and surfaces of constant mean curvature. We discuss various types of natural Gauss images, the existence of principal curvatures, constant curvature surfaces, Christoffel duality, Koenigs nets, contact element nets, s-isothermic nets, and interesting special cases such as discrete Delaunay surfaces derived from elliptic billiards.

math.DG↗

Integrable discrete nets in Grassmannians

We consider discrete nets in Grassmannians $\mathbb{G}^d_r$ which generalize Q-nets (maps $\mathbb{Z}^N\to\mathbb{P}^d$ with planar elementary quadrilaterals) and Darboux nets ($\mathbb{P}^d$-valued maps defined on the edges of $\mathbb{Z}^N$ such that quadruples of points corresponding to elementary squares are all collinear). We give a geometric proof of integrability (multidimensional consistency) of these novel nets, and show that they are analytically described by the noncommutative discrete Darboux system.

math.DG↗

Discrete Koenigs nets and discrete isothermic surfaces

We discuss discretization of Koenigs nets (conjugate nets with equal Laplace invariants) and of isothermic surfaces. Our discretization is based on the notion of dual quadrilaterals: two planar quadrilaterals are called dual, if their corresponding sides are parallel, and their non-corresponding diagonals are parallel. Discrete Koenigs nets are defined as nets with planar quadrilaterals admitting dual nets. Several novel geometric properties of discrete Koenigs nets are found; in particular, two-dimensional discrete Koenigs nets can be characterized by co-planarity of the intersection points of diagonals of elementary quadrilaterals adjacent to any vertex; this characterization is invariant with respect to projective transformations. Discrete isothermic nets are defined as circular Koenigs nets. This is a new geometric characterization of discrete isothermic surfaces introduced previously as circular nets with factorized cross-ratios.

math.DG↗

Surfaces from Circles

In the search for appropriate discretizations of surface theory it is crucial to preserve such fundamental properties of surfaces as their invariance with respect to transformation groups. We discuss discretizations based on Möbius invariant building blocks such as circles and spheres. Concrete problems considered in these lectures include the Willmore energy as well as conformal and curvature line parametrizations of surfaces. In particular we discuss geometric properties of a recently found discrete Willmore energy. The convergence to the smooth Willmore functional is shown for special refinements of triangulations originating from a curvature line parametrization of a surface. Further we treat special classes of discrete surfaces such as isothermic and minimal. The construction of these surfaces is based on the theory of circle patterns, in particular on their variational description.

math.DG↗

Discrete nonlinear hyperbolic equations. Classification of integrable cases

We consider discrete nonlinear hyperbolic equations on quad-graphs, in particular on the square lattice. The fields are associated to the vertices and an equation Q(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4)=0 relates four fields at one quad. Integrability of equations is understood as 3D-consistency. The latter is a possibility to consistently impose equations of the same type on all the faces of a three-dimensional cube. This allows to set these equations also on multidimensional lattices Z^N. We classify integrable equations with complex fields x, and Q affine-linear with respect to all arguments. The method is based on analysis of singular solutions.

nlin.SI↗

On organizing principles of Discrete Differential Geometry. Geometry of spheres

Discrete differential geometry aims to develop discrete equivalents of the geometric notions and methods of classical differential geometry. In this survey we discuss the following two fundamental Discretization Principles: the transformation group principle (smooth geometric objects and their discretizations are invariant with respect to the same transformation group) and the consistency principle (discretizations of smooth parametrized geometries can be extended to multidimensional consistent nets). The main concrete geometric problem discussed in this survey is a discretization of curvature line parametrized surfaces in Lie geometry. We find a discretization of curvature line parametrization which unifies the circular and conical nets by systematically applying the Discretization Principles.

math.DG↗

Isothermic surfaces in sphere geometries as Moutard nets

We give an elaborated treatment of discrete isothermic surfaces and their analogs in different geometries (projective, Möbius, Laguerre, Lie). We find the core of the theory to be a novel projective characterization of discrete isothermic nets as Moutard nets. The latter belong to projective geometry and are nets with planar faces defined through a five-point property: a vertex and its four diagonal neighbors span a three dimensional space. Analytically this property is equivalent to the existence of representatives in the space of homogeneous coordinates satisfying the discrete Moutard equation. Restricting the projective theory to quadrics, we obtain Moutard nets in sphere geometries. In particular, Moutard nets in Möbius geometry are shown to coincide with discrete isothermic nets. The five-point property in this particular case says that a vertex and its four diagonal neighbors lie on a common sphere, which is a novel characterization of discrete isothermic surfaces. Discrete Laguerre isothermic surfaces are defined through the corresponding five-plane property which requires that a plane and its four diagonal neighbors share a common touching sphere. Equivalently, Laguerre isothermic surfaces are characterized by having an isothermic Gauss map. We conclude with Moutard nets in Lie geometry.

math.DG↗

Alexandrov's theorem, weighted Delaunay triangulations, and mixed volumes

We present a constructive proof of Alexandrov's theorem regarding the existence of a convex polytope with a given metric on the boundary. The polytope is obtained as a result of a certain deformation in the class of generalized convex polytopes with the given boundary. We study the space of generalized convex polytopes and discover a relation with the weighted Delaunay triangulations of polyhedral surfaces. The existence of the deformation follows from the non-degeneracy of the Hessian of the total scalar curvature of a positively curved generalized convex polytope. The latter is shown to be equal to the Hessian of the volume of the dual generalized polyhedron. We prove the non-degeneracy by generalizing the Alexandrov-Fenchel inequality. Our construction of a convex polytope from a given metric is implemented in a computer program.

math.DG↗

A discrete Laplace-Beltrami operator for simplicial surfaces

We define a discrete Laplace-Beltrami operator for simplicial surfaces. It depends only on the intrinsic geometry of the surface and its edge weights are positive. Our Laplace operator is similar to the well known finite-elements Laplacian (the so called ``cotan formula'') except that it is based on the intrinsic Delaunay triangulation of the simplicial surface. This leads to new definitions of discrete harmonic functions, discrete mean curvature, and discrete minimal surfaces. The definition of the discrete Laplace-Beltrami operator depends on the existence and uniqueness of Delaunay tessellations in piecewise flat surfaces. While the existence is known, we prove the uniqueness. Using Rippa's Theorem we show that, as claimed, Musin's harmonic index provides an optimality criterion for Delaunay triangulations, and this can be used to prove that the edge flipping algorithm terminates also in the setting of piecewise flat surfaces.

math.DG↗

Discrete differential geometry. Consistency as integrability

A new field of discrete differential geometry is presently emerging on the border between differential and discrete geometry. Whereas classical differential geometry investigates smooth geometric shapes (such as surfaces), and discrete geometry studies geometric shapes with finite number of elements (such as polyhedra), the discrete differential geometry aims at the development of discrete equivalents of notions and methods of smooth surface theory. Current interest in this field derives not only from its importance in pure mathematics but also from its relevance for other fields like computer graphics. Recent progress in discrete differential geometry has lead, somewhat unexpectedly, to a better understanding of some fundamental structures lying in the basis of the classical differential geometry and of the theory of integrable systems. The goal of this book is to give a systematic presentation of current achievements in this field.

math.DG↗

Minimal surfaces from circle patterns: Geometry from combinatorics

We suggest a new definition for discrete minimal surfaces in terms of sphere packings with orthogonally intersecting circles. These discrete minimal surfaces can be constructed from Schramm's circle patterns. We present a variational principle which allows us to construct discrete analogues of some classical minimal surfaces. The data used for the construction are purely combinatorial--the combinatorics of the curvature line pattern. A Weierstrass-type representation and an associated family are derived. We show the convergence to continuous minimal surfaces.

math.DG↗

A conformal energy for simplicial surfaces

A new functional for simplicial surfaces is suggested. It is invariant with respect to Moebius transformations and is a discrete analogue of the Willmore functional. Minima of this functional are investigated. as an application a bending energy for discrete thin-shells is derived.

math.DG↗

Linear and nonlinear theories of discrete analytic functions. Integrable structure and isomonodromic Green's function

Two discretizations, linear and nonlinear, of basic notions of the complex analysis are considered. The underlying lattice is an arbitrary quasicrystallic rhombic tiling of a plane. The linear theory is based on the discrete Cauchy-Riemann equations, the nonlinear one is based on the notion of circle patterns. We clarify the role of the rhombic condition in both theories: under this condition the corresponding equations are integrable (in the sense of 3D consistency, which yields also the existense of zero curvature representations, B"acklund transformations etc.). We demonstrate that in some precise sense the linear theory is a linearization of the nonlinear one: the tangent space to a set of integrable circle patterns at an isoradial point consists of discrete holomorphic functions which take real (imaginary) values on two sublattices. We extend solutions of the basic equations of both theories to Z^d, where d is the number of different edge slopes of the quasicrystallic tiling. In the linear theory, we give an integral representation of an arbitrary discrete holomorphic function, thus proving the density of discrete exponential functions. We introduce the d-dimensional discrete logarithmic function which is a generalization of Kenyon's discrete Green's function, and uncover several new properties of this function. We prove that it is an isomonodromic solution of the discrete Cauchy-Riemann equations, and that it is a tangent vector to the space of integrable circle patterns along the family of isomonodromic discrete power functions.

math.DG↗

Hyperbolic constant mean curvature one surfaces: Spinor representation and trinoids in hypergeometric functions

We present a global representation for surfaces in 3-dimensional hyperbolic space with constant mean curvature 1 (CMC-1 surfaces) in terms of holomorphic spinors. This is a modification of Bryant's representation. It is used to derive explicit formulas in hypergeometric functions for CMC-1 surfaces of genus 0 with three regular ends which are asymptotic to catenoid cousins (CMC-1 trinoids).

math.DG↗

Variational principles for circle patterns and Koebe's theorem

We prove existence and uniqueness results for patterns of circles with prescribed intersection angles in constant curvature surfaces. Our method is based on two new functionals--one for the Euclidean and one for the hyperbolic case. We show how Colin de Verdi`ere's, Br"agger's and Rivin's functionals can be derived from ours.

math.GT↗

Integrable systems on quad-graphs

We consider general integrable systems on graphs as discrete flat connections with the values in loop groups. We argue that a certain class of graphs is of a special importance in this respect, namely quad-graphs, the cellular decompositions of oriented surfaces with all two-cells being quadrilateral. We establish a relation between integrable systems on quad-graphs and discrete systems of the Toda type on graphs. We propose a simple and general procedure for deriving discrete zero curvature representations for integrable systems on quad-graphs, based on the principle of the three-dimensional consistency. Thus, finding a zero curvature representation is put on an algorithmic basis and does not rely on the guesswork anymore. Several examples of integrable systems on quad-graphs are considered in detail, their geometric interpretation is given in terms of circle patterns.

nlin.SI↗