Geodesic equals energy minimum: Difference between revisions

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==Statement==
==Statement==


Let <math>M</math> be a [[complete Riemannian manifold]] and <math>p,q \in M</math> be any two points in <math>M</math> at distance <math>d</math>. Then, the [[energy functional]] on the [[path space]] <math>\Omega(M;p,q)</math> attains its minimum value <math>d^2</math> precisely on the [[minimal geodesic]]s from <math>p</math> to </math>q</math>.
Let <math>M</math> be a [[complete Riemannian manifold]] and <math>p,q \in M</math> be any two points in <math>M</math> at distance <math>d</math>. Then, the [[energy functional]] on the [[path space]] <math>\Omega(M;p,q)</math> attains its minimum value <math>d^2</math> precisely on the [[minimal geodesic]]s from <math>p</math> to <math>q</math>.

Revision as of 10:16, 5 August 2007

Statement

Let M be a complete Riemannian manifold and p,qM be any two points in M at distance d. Then, the energy functional on the path space Ω(M;p,q) attains its minimum value d2 precisely on the minimal geodesics from p to q.