Introduction What are Poincare and Sobolev inequalities? Poincare inequalities, pointwise estimates, and Sobolev classes Examples and necessary conditions Sobolev type inequalities by means of Riesz potentials Trudinger inequality A version of the Sobolev embedding theorem on spheres Rellich-Kondrachov Sobolev classes in John domains Poincare inequality: examples Carnot-Caratheodory spaces Graphs Applications to PDE and nonlinear potential theory Appendix References.

Sobolev met Poincaré

Let V be a smooth manifold where we distinguish a subset H in the set of all piecewise smooth curves c in V. We assume that H is defined by a local condition on curves, i.e. if c is divided into segments c 1,…, c k , then 

$$ c\, \in \,\mathcal{H} \Leftrightarrow \,{c_i} \in \mathcal{H},\,i = 1, \ldots ,k. $$

/pdf/carnot-caratheodory-spaces-seen-from-within-3y7qhthcfm.pdf

Carnot-Carathéodory spaces seen from within

We present a mathematical model of perceptual completion and formation of subjective surfaces, which is at the same time inspired by the architecture of the visual cortex, and is the lifting in the 3-dimensional rototranslation group of the phenomenological variational models based on elastica functional. The initial image is lifted by the simple cells to a surface in the rototranslation group and the completion process is modeled via a diffusion driven motion by curvature. The convergence of the motion to a minimal surface is proved. Results are presented both for modal and amodal completion in classic Kanizsa images.

/pdf/a-cortical-based-model-of-perceptual-completion-in-the-roto-vq8fojoxqf.pdf

A Cortical Based Model of Perceptual Completion in the Roto-Translation Space

Sub-Riemannian geometry is the geometry of a world with nonholonomic constraints. In such a world, one can move, send and receive information only in certain admissible directions but eventually can reach every position from any other. In the last two decades sub-Riemannian geometry has emerged as an independent research domain impacting on several areas of pure and applied mathematics, with applications to many areas such as quantum control, Hamiltonian dynamics, robotics and Lie theory. This comprehensive introduction proceeds from classical topics to cutting-edge theory and applications, assuming only standard knowledge of calculus, linear algebra and differential equations. The book may serve as a basis for an introductory course in Riemannian geometry or an advanced course in sub-Riemannian geometry, covering elements of Hamiltonian dynamics, integrable systems and Lie theory. It will also be a valuable reference source for researchers in various disciplines.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02019181/document

A Comprehensive Introduction to Sub-Riemannian Geometry

We apply the techniques of control theory and of sub-Riemannian geometry to laser-induced population transfer in two- and three-level quantum systems. The aim is to induce complete population transfer by one or two laser pulses minimizing the pulse fluences. Sub-Riemannian geometry and singular-Riemannian geometry provide a natural framework for this minimization, where the optimal control is expressed in terms of geodesics. We first show that in two-level systems the well-known technique of “π-pulse transfer” in the rotating wave approximation emerges naturally from this minimization. In three-level systems driven by two resonant fields, we also find the counterpart of the “π-pulse transfer.” This geometrical picture also allows one to analyze the population transfer by adiabatic passage.

/pdf/optimal-control-in-laser-induced-population-transfer-for-two-1c4906ml21.pdf

Optimal control in laser-induced population transfer for two- and three-level quantum systems

Tangent spaces of a sub-Riemannian manifold are themselves sub-Riemannian manifolds. They can be defined as metric spaces, using Gromov’s definition of tangent spaces to a metric space, and they turn out to be sub-Riemannian manifolds. Moreover, they come with an algebraic structure: nilpotent Lie groups with dilations. In the classical, Riemannian, case, they are indeed vector spaces, that is, abelian groups with dilations. Actually, the above is true only for regular points. At singular points, instead of nilpotent Lie groups one gets quotient spaces G/H of such groups G.

André Bellaïche

Papers

The tangent space in sub-Riemannian geometry