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Lorenzo Nicolodi

Publications and source records attributed to Lorenzo Nicolodi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

On a variational problem for curves in Lie sphere geometry

Let $Λ$ be the unit tangent bundle of the unit 3-sphere acted on transitively by the contact group of Lie sphere transformations. We study the Lie sphere geometry of generic curves in $Λ$ which are everywhere transversal to the contact distribution of $Λ$. By the method of moving frames, we prove that such curves can be parametrized by a Lie-invariant parameter, the Lie arclength, and that in this parametrization they are uniquely determined, up to Lie sphere transformation, by four local invariants, the Lie curvatures. We then consider the simplest Lie-invariant functional on generic transversal curves defined by integrating the differential of the Lie arclength. The corresponding Euler-Lagrange equations are computed and the critical curves are characterized in terms of their Lie curvatures. In our discussion, we adopt Griffiths' exterior differential systems approach to the calculus of variations.

math.DG↗
arXiv2024

Conformal geometry of quasi-umbilical timelike surfaces

The paper focuses on the conformal Lorentz geometry of quasi-umbilical timelike surfaces in the $(1+2)$-Einstein universe, the conformal compactification of Minkowski 3-space realized as the space of oriented null lines through the origin of $\mathbb{R}^{2,3}$. A timelike immersion of a surface $X$ in the Einstein universe is quasi-umbilical if its shape operator at any point of $X$ is non-diagonalizable over the complex numbers. We prove that quasi-umbilical surfaces are isothermic, that their conformal deformations depend on one arbitrary function in one variable, and show that their conformal Gauss map is harmonic. We then investigate their geometric structure and show how to construct all quasi-umbilical surfaces from null curves in the 4-dimensional neutral space form $S^{2,2}$.

math.DG↗
arXiv2023

On the Total CR Twist of Transversal Curves in the 3-Sphere

We investigate the total CR twist functional on transversal curves in the standard CR 3-sphere $\mathrm S^3 \subset \mathbb C^2$. The question of the integration by quadratures of the critical curves and the problem of existence and properties of closed critical curves are addressed. A procedure for the explicit integration of general critical curves is provided and a characterization of closed curves within a specific class of general critical curves is given. Experimental evidence of the existence of infinite countably many closed critical curves is provided.

math.DG↗
arXiv2021

Conformal geometry of isotropic curves in the complex quadric

Let $\mathbb{Q}_3$ be the complex 3-quadric endowed with its standard complex conformal structure. We study the complex conformal geometry of isotropic curves in $\mathbb{Q}_3$. By an isotropic curve we mean a nonconstant holomorphic map from a Riemann surface into $\mathbb{Q}_3$, null with respect to the conformal structure of $\mathbb{Q}_3$. The relations between isotropic curves and a number of relevant classes of surfaces in Riemannian and Lorentzian spaceforms are discussed.

math.DG↗
arXiv2020

On the Cauchy-Riemann geometry of transversal curves in the 3-sphere

Let $\mathrm S^3$ be the unit sphere of $\mathbb C^2$ with its standard Cauchy-Riemann (CR) structure. This paper investigates the CR geometry of curves in $\mathrm S^3$ which are transversal to the contact distribution, using the local CR invariants of $\mathrm S^3$. More specifically, the focus is on the CR geometry of transversal knots. Four global invariants of transversal knots are considered: the phase anomaly, the CR spin, the Maslov index, and the CR self-linking number. The interplay between these invariants and the Bennequin number of a knot are discussed. Next, the simplest CR invariant variational problem for generic transversal curves is considered and its closed critical curves are studied.

math.DG↗
arXiv2019

On the restricted conformal group of the (1+n)-Einstein static universe

Explicit models for the restricted conformal group of the Einstein static universe of dimension greater than two and for its universal covering group are constructed. Based on these models, as an application we determine all oriented and time-oriented conformal Lorentz manifolds whose restricted conformal group has maximal dimension. They amount to the Einstein static universe itself and two countably infinite series of its compact quotients.

math.DG↗
arXiv2019

Critical Robertson-Walker universes

The integral of the energy density function $\mathfrak m$ of a closed Robertson-Walker (RW) spacetime with source a perfect fluid and cosmological constant $Λ$ gives rise to an action functional on the space of scale functions of RW spacetime metrics. This paper studies closed RW spacetimes which are critical for this functional, subject to volume-preserving variations (critical RW spacetimes). A complete classification of critical RW spacetimes is given and explicit solutions in terms of Weierstrass elliptic functions and their degenerate forms are computed. The standard energy conditions (weak, dominant, and strong) as well as the cyclic property of critical RW spacetimes are discussed.

math.DG↗
arXiv2018

Surfaces in Laguerre Geometry

This exposition gives an introduction to the theory of surfaces in Laguerre geometry and surveys some results, mostly obtained by the authors, about three important classes of surfaces in Laguerre geometry, namely L-isothermic, L-minimal, and generalized L-minimal surfaces. The quadric model of Lie sphere geometry is adopted for Laguerre geometry and the method of moving frames is used throughout. As an example, the Cartan-Kaehler theorem is applied to study the Cauchy problem for the Pfaffian differential system of L-minimal surfaces. This is an elaboration of the talks given by the authors at IMPAN, Warsaw, in September 2016. The objective was to illustrate, by the subject of Laguerre surface geometry, some of the topics presented in a series of lectures held at IMPAN by G. R. Jensen on Lie sphere geometry and by B. McKay on exterior differential systems.

math.DG↗
arXiv2017

Affordable and Energy-Efficient Cloud Computing Clusters: The Bolzano Raspberry Pi Cloud Cluster Experiment

We present our ongoing work building a Raspberry Pi cluster consisting of 300 nodes. The unique characteristics of this single board computer pose several challenges, but also offer a number of interesting opportunities. On the one hand, a single Raspberry Pi can be purchased cheaply and has a low power consumption, which makes it possible to create an affordable and energy-efficient cluster. On the other hand, it lacks in computing power, which makes it difficult to run computationally intensive software on it. Nevertheless, by combining a large number of Raspberries into a cluster, this drawback can be (partially) offset. Here we report on the first important steps of creating our cluster: how to set up and configure the hardware and the system software, and how to monitor and maintain the system. We also discuss potential use cases for our cluster, the two most important being an inexpensive and green test bed for cloud computing research and a robust and mobile data center for operating in adverse environments.

cs.DC↗
arXiv2017

Topologically embedded pseudospherical cylinders

The class of traveling wave solutions of the sine-Gordon equation is known to be in 1-1 correspondence with the class of (necessarily singular) pseudospherical surfaces in Euclidean space with screw-motion symmetry: the pseudospherical helicoids. We explicitly describe all pseudospherical helicoids in terms of elliptic functions. This solves a problem posed by Popov [Lobachevsky geometry and modern nonlinear problems, Birkhäuser/Springer, Cham, 2014]. As an application, countably many continuous families of topologically embedded pseudospherical helicoids are constructed. A (singular) pseudospherical helicoid is proved to be either a dense subset of a region bounded by two coaxial cylinders, a topologically immersed cylinder with helical self-intersections, or a topologically embedded cylinder with helical singularities, called for short a pseudospherical twisted column. Pseudospherical twisted columns are characterized by four phenomenological invariants: the helicity $η\in \mathbb{Z}_2$, the parity $ε\in \mathbb{Z}_2$, the wave number $\mathfrak n\in \mathbb{N}$, and the aspect ratio $\mathfrak{d}>0$, up to translations along the screw axis. A systematic procedure for explicitly determining all pseudospherical twisted columns from the invariants is provided.

math.DG↗
arXiv2017

Quantization of the conformal arclength functional on space curves

By a conformal string in Euclidean space is meant a closed critical curve with non-constant conformal curvatures of the conformal arclength functional. We prove that (1) the set of conformal classes of conformal strings is in 1-1 correspondence with the rational points of the complex domain $\{q\in \mathbb{C} \,:\, 1/2 < \mathrm{Re}\, q < 1/\sqrt{2},\,\, \mathrm{Im}\, q > 0,\,\, |q| < 1/\sqrt{2}\}$ and (2) any conformal class has a model conformal string, called symmetrical configuration, which is determined by three phenomenological invariants: the order of its symmetry group and its linking numbers with the two conformal circles representing the rotational axes of the symmetry group. This amounts to the quantization of closed trajectories of the contact dynamical system associated to the conformal arclength functional via Griffiths' formalism of the calculus of variations.

math.DG↗
arXiv2016

Conformal geometry of timelike curves in the (1+2)-Einstein universe

We study the conformal geometry of timelike curves in the (1+2)-Einstein universe, the conformal compactification of Minkowski 3-space defined as the quotient of the null cone of $\mathbb{R}^{2,3}$ by the action by positive scalar multiplications. The purpose is to describe local and global conformal invariants of timelike curves and to address the question of existence and properties of closed trajectories for the conformal strain functional. Some relations between the conformal geometry of timelike curves and the geometry of knots and links in the 3-sphere are discussed.

math.DG↗
arXiv2014

The geometric Cauchy problem for the membrane shape equation

We address the geometric Cauchy problem for surfaces associated to the membrane shape equation describing equilibrium configurations of vesicles formed by lipid bilayers. This is the Euler-Lagrange equation of the Canham-Helfrich-Evans elastic curvature energy subject to constraints on the enclosed volume and the surface area. Our approach uses the method of moving frames and techniques from the theory of exterior differential systems.

math.DG↗
arXiv2014

Holomorphic differentials and Laguerre deformation of surfaces

A Laguerre geometric local characterization is given of L-minimal surfaces and Laguerre deformations (T-transforms) of L-minimal isothermic surfaces in terms of the holomorphicity of a quartic and a quadratic differential. This is used to prove that, via their Laguerre Gauss maps, the T-transforms of L-minimal isothermic surfaces have constant mean curvature in some translate of hyperbolic 3-space or de Sitter 3-space in Minkowski 4-space, or have mean curvature zero in some translate of a time-oriented lightcone in Minkowski 4-space. As an application, we show that various instances of the Lawson isometric correspondence can be viewed as special cases of the T-transformation of L-isothermic surfaces with holomorphic quartic differential.

math.DG↗
arXiv2010

Hamiltonian flows on null curves

The local motion of a null curve in Minkowski 3-space induces an evolution equation for its Lorentz invariant curvature. Special motions are constructed whose induced evolution equations are the members of the KdV hierarchy. The null curves which move under the KdV flow without changing shape are proven to be the trajectories of a certain particle model on null curves described by a Lagrangian linear in the curvature. In addition, it is shown that the curvature of a null curve which evolves by similarities can be computed in terms of the solutions of the second Painlevé equation.

math.DG↗
arXiv2009

Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces

We develop an approach to affine symplectic invariant geometry of Lagrangian surfaces by the method of moving frames. The fundamental invariants of elliptic Lagrangian immersions in affine symplectic four-space are derived together with their integrability equations. The invariant setup is applied to discuss the question of symplectic applicability for elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Explicit examples are considered.

math.DG↗
arXiv2007

Conformal deformation of spacelike surfaces in Minkowski space

We address the problem of second order conformal deformation of spacelike surfaces in compactified Minkowski 4-space. We explain the construction of the exterior differential system of conformal deformations and discuss its general and singular solutions. In particular, we show that isothermic surfaces are singular solutions of the system, which implies that a generic second order deformable surface is not isothermic. This differs from the situation in 3-dimensional conformal geometry, where isothermic surfaces coincide with deformable surfaces.

math.DG↗