Zhongmin Shen

In 1854, B Riemann introduced the notion of curvature for spaces with a family of inner products. There was no significant progress in the general case until 1918, when P Finsler studied the variation problem in regular metric spaces. Around 1926, L Berwald extended Riemann''s notion of curvature to regular metric spaces and introduced an important non-Riemannian curvature using his connection for regular metrics. Since then, Finsler geometry has developed steadily. In his Paris address in 1900, D Hilbert formulated 23 problems, the 4th and 23rd problems being in Finsler''s category. Finsler geometry has broader applications in many areas of science and will continue to develop through the efforts of many geometers around the world. Usually, the methods employed in Finsler geometry involve very complicated tensor computations. Sometimes this discourages beginners. Viewing Finsler spaces as regular metric spaces, the author discusses the problems from the modern metric geometry point of view. The book begins with the basics on Finsler spaces, including the notions of geodesics and curvatures, then deals with basic comparison theorems on metrics and measures and their applications to the Levy concentration theory of regular metric measure spaces and Gromov''s Hausdorff convergence theory. Contents: Finsler Spaces; Finsler m Spaces; Co-Area Formula; Isoperimetric Inequalities; Geodesics and Connection; Riemann Curvature; Non-Riemannian Curvatures; Structure Equations; Finsler Spaces of Constant Curvature; Second Variation Formula; Geodesics and Exponential Map; Conjugate Radius and Injectivity Radius; Basic Comparison Theorems; Geometry of Hypersurfaces; Geometry of Metric Spheres; Volume Comparison Theorems; Morse Theory of Loop Spaces; Vanishing Theorems for Homotopy Groups; Spaces of Finsler Spaces. Readership: Graduate students and researchers in geometry and physics.

Lectures on Finsler Geometry

Shiing-Shen Chern

Riemann-Finsler geometry is a subject that concerns manifolds with Finsler metrics, including Riemannian metrics. It has applications in many fields of the natural sciences. Curvature is the central concept in Riemann-Finsler geometry. This invaluable textbook presents detailed discussions on important curvatures such the Cartan torsion, the S-curvature, the Landsberg curvature and the Riemann curvature. It also deals with Finsler metrics with special curvature or geodesic properties, such as projectively flat Finsler metrics, Berwald metrics, Finsler metrics of scalar curvature or isotropic S-curvature, etc. Instructive examples are given in abundance, for further description of some important geometric concepts. The text includes the most recent results, although many of the problems discussed are classical. Graduate students and researchers in differential geometry.

Riemann-Finsler Geometry

Xinyue Cheng

"Finsler Geometry: An Approach via Randers Spaces" exclusively deals with a special class of Finsler metrics -- Randers metrics, which are defined as the sum of a Riemannian metric and a 1-form. Randers metrics derive from the research on General Relativity Theory and have been applied in many areas of the natural sciences. They can also be naturally deduced as the solution of the Zermelo navigation problem. The book provides readers not only with essential findings on Randers metrics but also the core ideas and methods which are useful in Finsler geometry. It will be of significant interest to researchers and practitioners working in Finsler geometry, even in differential geometry or related natural fields. Xinyue Cheng is a Professor at the School of Mathematics and Statistics of Chongqing University of Technology, China. Zhongmin Shen is a Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences of Indiana University Purdue University, USA.

An Approach via Randers Spaces

Finsler Geometry

Yi-Bing Shen

This comprehensive book is an introduction to the basics of Finsler geometry with recent developments in its area. It includes local geometry as well as global geometry of Finsler manifolds. In Part I, the authors discuss differential manifolds, Finsler metrics, the Chern connection, Riemannian and non-Riemannian quantities. Part II is written for readers who would like to further their studies in Finsler geometry. It covers projective transformations, comparison theorems, fundamental group, minimal immersions, harmonic maps, Einstein metrics, conformal transformations, amongst other related topics. The authors made great efforts to ensure that the contents are accessible to senior undergraduate students, graduate students, mathematicians and scientists.

Zhongmin Shen

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