arXiv subjects

Enrico Le Donne

Publications and source records attributed to Enrico Le Donne.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Nilpotent groups and biLipschitz embeddings into $L^1$

We prove that if a simply connected nilpotent Lie group quasi-isometrically embeds into an $L^1$ space, then it is abelian. We reach this conclusion by proving that every Carnot group that biLipschitz embeds into $L^1$ is abelian. Our proof follows the work of Cheeger and Kleiner, by considering the pull-back distance of a Lipschitz map into $L^1$ and representing it using a cut measure. We show that such cut measures, and the induced distances, can be blown up and the blown-up cut measure is supported on "generic" tangents of the original sets. By repeating such a blow-up procedure, one obtains a cut measure supported on half-spaces. This differentiation result then is used to prove that bi-Lipschitz embeddings can not exist in the non-abelian settings.

math.MG↗

arXiv2021

Lipschitz Carnot-Carathéodory structures and their limits

In this paper we discuss the convergence of distances associated to converging structures of Lipschitz vector fields and continuously varying norms on a smooth manifold. We prove that, under a mild controllability assumption on the limit vector-fields structure, the distances associated to equi-Lipschitz vector-fields structures that converge uniformly on compact subsets, and to norms that converge uniformly on compact subsets, converge locally uniformly to the limit Carnot-Carathéodory distance. In the case in which the limit distance is boundedly compact, we show that the convergence of the distances is uniform on compact sets. We show an example in which the limit distance is not boundedly compact and the convergence is not uniform on compact sets. We discuss several examples in which our convergence result can be applied. Among them, we prove a subFinsler Mitchell's Theorem with continuously varying norms, and a general convergence result for Carnot-Carathéodory distances associated to subspaces and norms on the Lie algebra of a connected Lie group.

math.MG↗

arXiv2021

From homogeneous metric spaces to Lie groups

We study homogeneous metric spaces, by which we mean connected, locally compact metric spaces whose isometry group acts transitively. After a review of some classical results, we use the Gleason-Iwasawa-Montgomery-Yamabe-Zippin structure theory to show that for all positive $ε$, each such space is $(1,ε)$-quasi-isometric to a connected metric Lie group. Next, we develop the structure theory of Lie groups to show that every homogeneous metric manifold is homeomorphically roughly isometric to a quotient space of a connected amenable Lie group, and roughly isometric to a simply connected solvable metric Lie group. Third, we investigate solvable metric Lie groups in more detail, and expound on and extend work of Gordon and Wilson and of Jablonski on these, showing, for instance, that connected, simply connected solvable Lie groups may be made isometric if and only if they have the same real-shadow. Finally, we extend a result of Kivioja and Le Donne to show that homogeneous metric spaces that admit a metric dilation are all metric Lie groups with an automorphic dilation.

math.MG↗

arXiv2021

Horizontally affine functions on step-2 Carnot algebras

In this paper we introduce the notion of horizontally affine, h-affine in short, function and give a complete description of such functions on step-2 Carnot algebras. We show that the vector space of h-affine functions on the free step-2 rank-$n$ Carnot algebra is isomorphic to the exterior algebra of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Using that every Carnot algebra can be written as a quotient of a free Carnot algebra, we shall deduce from the free case a description of h-affine functions on arbitrary step-2 Carnot algebras, together with several characterizations of those step-2 Carnot algebras where h-affine functions are affine in the usual sense of vector spaces. Our interest for h-affine functions stems from their relationship with a class of sets called precisely monotone, recently introduced in the literature, as well as from their relationship with minimal hypersurfaces.

math.MG↗

arXiv2021

Metric equivalences of Heintze groups and applications to classifications in low dimension

We approach the quasi-isometric classification questions on Lie groups by considering low dimensional cases and isometries alongside quasi-isometries. First, we present some new results related to quasi-isometries between Heintze groups. Then we will see how these results together with the existing tools related to isometries can be applied to groups of dimension 4 and 5 in particular. Thus we take steps towards determining all the equivalence classes of groups up to isometry and quasi-isometry. We completely solve the classification up to isometry for simply connected solvable groups in dimension 4, and for the subclass of groups of polynomial growth in dimension 5.

math.GR↗

arXiv2021

Bicycle paths, elasticae and sub-Riemannian geometry

We relate the sub-Riemannian geometry on the group of rigid motions of the plane to `bicycling mathematics'. We show that this geometry's geodesics correspond to bike paths whose front tracks are either non-inflectional Euler elasticae or straight lines, and that its infinite minimizing geodesics (or `metric lines') correspond to bike paths whose front tracks are either straight lines or `Euler's solitons' (also known as Syntractrix or Convicts' curves).

math.DG↗

arXiv2020

Polynomial and horizontally polynomial functions on Lie groups

We generalize both the notion of polynomial functions on Lie groups and the notion of horizontally affine maps on Carnot groups. We fix a subset $S$ of the algebra $\mathfrak g$ of left-invariant vector fields on a Lie group $\mathbb G$ and we assume that $S$ Lie generates $\mathfrak g$. We say that a function $f:\mathbb G\to \mathbb R$ (or more generally a distribution on $\mathbb G$) is $S$-polynomial if for all $X\in S$ there exists $k\in \mathbb N$ such that the iterated derivative $X^k f$ is zero in the sense of distributions. First, we show that all $S$-polynomial functions (as well as distributions) are represented by analytic functions and, if the exponent $k$ in the previous definition is independent on $X\in S$, they form a finite-dimensional vector space. Second, if $\mathbb G$ is connected and nilpotent we show that $S$-polynomial functions are polynomial functions in the sense of Leibman. The same result may not be true for non-nilpotent groups. Finally, we show that in connected nilpotent Lie groups, being polynomial in the sense of Leibman, being a polynomial in exponential chart, and the vanishing of mixed derivatives of some fixed degree along directions of $\mathfrak g$ are equivalent notions.

math.GR↗

arXiv2020

A Cornucopia of Carnot groups in Low Dimensions

Stratified groups are those simply connected Lie groups whose Lie algebras admit a derivation for which the eigenspace with eigenvalue 1 is Lie generating. When a stratified group is equipped with a left-invariant path distance that is homogeneous with respect to the automorphisms induced by the derivation, this metric space is known as Carnot group. Carnot groups appear in several mathematical contexts. To understand their algebraic structure, it is useful to study some examples explicitly. In this work, we provide a list of low-dimensional stratified groups, express their Lie product, and present a basis of left-invariant vector fields, together with their respective left-invariant 1-forms, a basis of right-invariant vector fields, and some other properties. We exhibit all stratified groups in dimension up to 7 and also study some free-nilpotent groups in dimension up to 14.

math.DG↗

arXiv2020

Characterizations of uniformly differentiable co-horizontal intrinsic graphs in Carnot groups

In arbitrary Carnot groups we study intrinsic graphs of maps with horizontal target. These graphs are $C^1_H$ regular exactly when the map is uniformly intrinsically differentiable. Our first main result characterizes the uniformly intrinsic differentiability by means of Hölder properties along the projections of left-invariant vector fields on the graph. We strengthen the result in step-2 Carnot groups for intrinsic real-valued maps by only requiring horizontal regularity. We remark that such a refinement is not possible already in the easiest step-3 group. As a by-product of independent interest, in every Carnot group we prove an area-formula for uniformly intrinsically differentiable real-valued maps. We also explicitly write the area element in terms of the intrinsic derivatives of the map.

math.MG↗

arXiv2020

Semigenerated step-3 Carnot algebras and applications to sub-Riemannian perimeter

This paper contributes to the study of sets of finite intrinsic perimeter in Carnot groups. Our intent is to characterize in which groups the only sets with constant intrinsic normal are the vertical half-spaces. Our viewpoint is algebraic: such a phenomenon happens if and only if the semigroup generated by each horizontal half-space is a vertical half-space. We call \emph{semigenerated} those Carnot groups with this property. For Carnot groups of nilpotency step 3 we provide a complete characterization of semigeneration in terms of whether such groups do not have any Engel-type quotients. Engel-type groups, which are introduced here, are the minimal (in terms of quotients) counterexamples. In addition, we give some sufficient criteria for semigeneration of Carnot groups of arbitrary step. For doing this, we define a new class of Carnot groups, which we call type $(\Diamond)$ and which generalizes the previous notion of type $(\star)$ defined by M. Marchi. As an application, we get that in type $ (\Diamond) $ groups and in step 3 groups that do not have any Engel-type algebra as a quotient, one achieves a strong rectifiability result for sets of finite perimeter in the sense of Franchi, Serapioni, and Serra-Cassano.

math.GR↗

arXiv2020

Universal differentiability sets and maximal directional derivatives in Carnot groups

We show that every Carnot group G of step 2 admits a Hausdorff dimension one `universal differentiability set' N such that every real-valued Lipschitz map on G is Pansu differentiable at some point of N. This relies on the fact that existence of a maximal directional derivative of f at a point x implies Pansu differentiability at the same point x. We show that such an implication holds in Carnot groups of step 2 but fails in the Engel group which has step 3.

math.FA↗

arXiv2019

Pauls rectifiable and purely Pauls unrectifiable smooth hypersurfaces

This paper is related to the problem of finding a good notion of rectifiability in sub-Riemannian geometry. In particular, we study which kind of results can be expected for smooth hypersurfaces in Carnot groups. Our main contribution will be a consequence of the following result: there exists a $C^{\infty}$ hypersurface $S$ without characteristic points that has uncountably many pairwise non-isomorphic tangent groups on every positive-measure subset. The example is found in a Carnot group of topological dimension 8, it has Hausdorff dimension 12 and so we use on it the Hausdorff measure $\mathcal{H}^{12}$. As a consequence, we show that for every Carnot group of Hausdorff dimension 12, any Lipschitz map defined on a subset of it with values in $S$ has $\mathcal{H}^{12}$-null image. In particular, we deduce that this smooth hypersurface cannot be Lipschitz parametrizable by countably many maps each defined on some subset of some Carnot group of Hausdorff dimension $12$. As main consequence we have that a notion of rectifiability proposed by S.Pauls is not equivalent to one proposed by B.Franchi, R.Serapioni and F.Serra Cassano, at least for arbitrary Carnot groups. In addition, we show that, given a subset $U$ of a homogeneous subgroup of Hausdorff dimension $12$ of a Carnot group, every bi-Lipschitz map $f:U\to S$ satisfies $\mathcal{H}^{12}(f(U))=0$. Finally, we prove that such an example does not exist in Heisenberg groups: we prove that all $C^{\infty}$-hypersurfaces in $\mathbb H^n$ with $n\geq 2$ are countably $\mathbb{H}^{n-1}\times\mathbb R$-rectifiabile according to Pauls' definition, even with bi-Lipschitz maps.

math.MG↗

arXiv2019

Sets with constant normal in Carnot groups: properties and examples

We analyze subsets of Carnot groups that have intrinsic constant normal, as they appear in the blowup study of sets that have finite sub-Riemannian perimeter. The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, we prove some mild regularity and structural results in arbitrary Carnot groups. Namely, we show that for every constant-normal set in a Carnot group its sub-Riemannian-Lebesgue representative is regularly open, contractible, and its topological boundary coincides with the reduced boundary and with the measure-theoretic boundary. We infer these properties from a cone property. Such a cone will be a semisubgroup with nonempty interior that is canonically associated with the normal direction. We characterize the constant-normal sets exactly as those that are arbitrary unions of translations of such semisubgroups. Second, making use of such a characterization, we provide some pathological examples in the specific case of the free-Carnot group of step 3 and rank 2. Namely, we construct a constant normal set that, with respect to any Riemannian metric, is not of locally finite perimeter; we also construct an example with non-unique intrinsic blowup at some point, showing that it has different upper and lower sub-Riemannian density at the origin. Third, we show that in Carnot groups of step 4 or less, every constant-normal set is intrinsically rectifiable, in the sense of Franchi, Serapioni, and Serra Cassano.

math.DG↗

arXiv2019

Universal infinitesimal Hilbertianity of sub-Riemannian manifolds

We prove that sub-Riemannian manifolds are infinitesimally Hilbertian (i.e., the associated Sobolev space is Hilbert) when equipped with an arbitrary Radon measure. The result follows from an embedding of metric derivations into the space of square-integrable sections of the horizontal bundle, which we obtain on all weighted sub-Finsler manifolds. As an intermediate tool, of independent interest, we show that any sub-Finsler distance can be monotonically approximated from below by Finsler ones. All the results are obtained in the general setting of possibly rank-varying structures.

math.MG↗

arXiv2019

Space of signatures as inverse limits of Carnot groups

We formalize the notion of limit of an inverse system of metric spaces with $1$-Lipschitz projections having unbounded fibers. The purpose is to use sub-Riemannian groups for metrizing the space of signatures of rectifiable paths in Euclidean spaces, as introduced by Chen. The constructive limit space has the universal property in the category of pointed metric spaces with 1-Lipschitz maps. In the general setting some metric properties are discussed such as the existence of geodesics and lifts. The notion of submetry will play a crucial role. The construction is applied to the sequence of free Carnot groups of fixed rank $n$ and increasing step. In this case, such limit space is in correspondence with the space of signatures of rectifiable paths in $\mathbb R^n$. Hambly-Lyons's result on the uniqueness of signature implies that this space is a geodesic metric tree that brunches at every point with infinite valence. As a particular consequence we deduce that every path in $\mathbb R^n$ can be approximated by projections of some geodesics in some Carnot group of rank $n$, giving an evidence that the complexity of sub-Riemannian geodesics increases with the step.

math.MG↗

arXiv2019

Metric Lie groups admitting dilations

We consider left-invariant distances $d$ on a Lie group $G$ with the property that there exists a multiplicative one-parameter group of Lie automorphisms $(0, \infty)\rightarrow\mathtt{Aut}(G)$, $λ\mapstoδ_λ$, so that $ d(δ_λx,δ_λy) = λd(x,y)$, for all $x,y\in G$ and all $λ>0$. First, we show that all such distances are admissible, that is, they induce the manifold topology. Second, we characterize multiplicative one-parameter groups of Lie automorphisms that are dilations for some left-invariant distance in terms of algebraic properties of their infinitesimal generator. Third, we show that an admissible left-invariant distance on a Lie group with at least one nontrivial dilating automorphism is biLipschitz equivalent to one that admits a one-parameter group of dilating automorphisms. Moreover, the infinitesimal generator can be chosen to have spectrum in $[1,\infty)$. Fourth, we characterize the automorphisms of a Lie group that are a dilating automorphisms for some admissible distance. Finally, we characterize metric Lie groups admitting a one-parameter group of dilating automorphisms as the only locally compact, isometrically homogeneous metric spaces with metric dilations of all factors. Such metric spaces appear as tangents of doubling metric spaces with unique tangents.

math.MG↗

arXiv2019

Carnot rectifiability of sub-Riemannian manifolds with constant tangent

We show that if $M$ is a sub-Riemannian manifold and $N$ is a Carnot group such that the nilpotentization of $M$ at almost every point is isomorphic to $N$, then there are subsets of $N$ of positive measure that embed into $M$ by bilipschitz maps. Furthermore, $M$ is countably $N$--rectifiable, i.e., all of $M$ except for a null set can be covered by countably many such maps.

math.MG↗

arXiv2018

Gâteaux differentiability on infinite-dimensional Carnot groups

This paper contributes to the generalization of Rademacher's differentiability result for Lipschitz functions when the domain is infinite dimensional and has nonabelian group structure. We introduce the notion of metric scalable groups which are our infinite-dimensional analogues of Carnot groups. The groups in which we will mostly be interested are the ones that admit a dense increasing sequence of (finite-dimensional) Carnot subgroups. In fact, in each of these spaces we show that every Lipschitz function has a point of Gâteaux differentiability. We provide examples and criteria for when such Carnot subgroups exist. The proof of the main theorem follows the work of Aronszajn and Pansu.

math.FA↗