Questions tagged [curves]

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Is a simple closed curve always a free boundary arc?

Is it possible to extract a neighborhood around any point on a simple closed curve such that the boundary of this neighborhood intersects the curve at only two points? For a simple closed curve $\...
Pacific saury's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
125 views

Inflection point calculation for cubic Bézier curve encounters division by zero

I've been working on finding the inflection points of a cubic Bezier curve using the method described in a paper Hain, Venkat, Racherla, and Langan - Fast, Precise Flattening of Cubic Bézier Segment ...
Ziamor's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
58 views

Biot-Savart-like integral for a toroidal helix

The following problem originates from Physics, so I apologize if I will not use a rigorous mathematical jargon. Let us consider a toroidal helix parametrized as follows: $$ x=(R+r\cos(n\phi))\cos(\phi)...
AndreaPaco's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
73 views

Curvature of randomly generated B-spline curve

I am working on Bayesian statistical estimation of parameters (control points) of closed B-spline curve bounding an object on a an image. The problem is that I require those curves to not be much &...
MatEZ's user avatar
  • 31
9 votes
1 answer
472 views

Are any embeddings $[0,1]\to\mathbb{R}^3$ topologically equivalent?

Suppose we are given embeddings $f_1,f_2:[0,1]\to\mathbb R^3$. Does there exist a homeomorphism $g:\mathbb R^3\to\mathbb R^3$ such that $g\circ f_1=f_2$? This question seems to be classical eighty ...
Andrey Ryabichev's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
97 views

Vanishing of Goldman bracket requires simple-closed representative?

Let $\Sigma$ be a connected oriented surface, and $[-,-]\colon \Bbb Z\big[\widehat\pi(\Sigma)\big]\times Z\big[\widehat\pi(\Sigma)\big]\to Z\big[\widehat\pi(\Sigma)\big]$ be the Goldman Bracket. Note ...
Random's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
117 views

More on points on a curve of genus 3

Let $Y$ be a smooth complex projective curve of genus two, $X$ a Galois cover of degree two of $Y$ and $K$ the canonical divisor of $X$. Let $i$ be the involution of $X$ over $Y$. Can one find two ...
user95246's user avatar
  • 237
2 votes
1 answer
298 views

Points on curves of genus 3

Let $Y$ be a smooth complex projective curve of genus two, $X$ a Galois cover of degree two of $Y$ and $K$ the canonical divisor of $X$. Let $i$ be the involution of $X$ over $Y$. Can one find a point ...
user95246's user avatar
  • 237
3 votes
1 answer
108 views

A closed curve can be homotopic to remove all intersections with a filling $\Gamma$ if it has zero geometric intersection numbers with $\Gamma$

Let $\Sigma$ be a compact oriented connected bordered surface other than the pair of pants. Let $\Gamma:=\{\gamma_i\}$ be a finite collection of simple closed curves on $\Sigma$ such that each ...
Random's user avatar
  • 875
4 votes
2 answers
102 views

Characterization of a non-trivial non-peripheral element of the free homotopy classes of a compact bordered surface

Let $\Sigma$ be a compact orientable connected $2$-manifold with a non-empty boundary. Let $\widehat \pi(\Sigma)$ denote the set of free homotopy classes of curves in $\Sigma$. We say $x\in \widehat \...
Random's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
38 views

Fibrewise coordinates in a neighborhood of a graph of a continuous curve

Let $M$ be a smooth manifold, $\dim M=n$ and $\gamma:[0;1]\to M$ be continuous. Is it true that there exists local coordinates $(y^0,\ldots,y^n)$ in a neighborhood $V$ of the graph $\{(t,\gamma(t)),t\...
Lev's user avatar
  • 61
5 votes
1 answer
613 views

A regular, geometrically reduced but non-smooth curve

Can anyone give an example of a projective, regular, geometrically reduced but non-smooth curve ? Of course, the base field should be imperfect. In Exercise 4.3.22 of Qing Liu's book Algebraic ...
Yong Hu's user avatar
  • 600
1 vote
1 answer
64 views

Representation of $x$-non-monotone curves with one intersection each by $x$-monotone curves

Take the $y$-axis and a set of $n$ curves starting from $y$-axis, labelled as $\mathcal{C}:=\{C_1,C_2,...,C_n\}$. These curves fulfill the following conditions: The curves all have a starting point ...
polygonlink1's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
459 views

There exists differentiable curves arbitrarily close to the continuous ones

Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold; if $d$ is the distance on $M$, we can consider the distance $D$ between any two continuous curves given by $D(c, \gamma) = \max _{t \in [0,1]} d(c(t), \gamma(t))$. ...
Alex M.'s user avatar
  • 5,105
10 votes
1 answer
271 views

Rational even polynomials maximally tangent to the unit circle

This question is motivated by College Mathematics Journal problem 1196, proposed by Ferenc Beleznay and Daniel Hwang. My solution to this problem (pre-publication version here) uses Chebyshev ...
Mark Wildon's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
34 views

Curves traced out by the centers of mass of rolling convex shapes

Question: which kind of curves can be traced out by the center of mass of a rigid compact convex shape of uniform density that rolls along the x-axis without slip? Formulatd differently: are there ...
Manfred Weis's user avatar
  • 12.5k
3 votes
1 answer
174 views

Maps that preserve winding numbers

This question is a cross post from the Math StackExchange since it got no attention at all there: https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4414601/maps-that-preserve-winding-numbers I am looking for a ...
Manuel Eberl's user avatar
  • 1,181
2 votes
0 answers
101 views

Single theorem for hybrid of winding number and rotation number?

I am trying to make mathematical sense of some observations from my physics research, so I hope that you will bear with me. For a complex-valued function $z(t)$ dependent on parameter $t$, I calculate ...
TribalChief's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
150 views

Proof for rotation number $\operatorname{rot}(K) = \sum \limits_C \omega_C(K) - \sum \limits_p \operatorname{ind}_p(K)$?

I need the following statement for a proof I am working on. It seems so simple and I'd rather have it ready to be cited instead of spending a page proving it (I found one for this statement), but ...
CptMaister's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
247 views

An algebraic proof: A line bundle on a curve with a connection must be of degree 0

Let me state it using the language of $D$-modules. Let $X$ be a smooth projective curve and $\mathcal{L}$ a line bundle on it. Assume that $\mathcal{L}$ has a left action of $\mathcal{D}_X$. Then show ...
XT Chen's user avatar
  • 1,044
4 votes
0 answers
63 views

$(n-2)$-degree curve passing through $n(n-1)/2$ midpoints

It is known that in the plane, there is an unique conic passing through given $5$ points. For any $4$ points, there is 6 segments which vertex from these points. It is known that $6$ midpoints of ...
Vu Thanh Tung's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

Constant width curves and inscribed/ circumscribed ellipses

It is known (see for example the Wikipedia entry on the Reuleaux triangle) that for every curve of constant width (CCW), the largest inscribed circle and the smallest circumscribed circle are ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,199
14 votes
2 answers
951 views

Is there a square with all corner points on the spiral $r=k\theta$, $0 \leq \theta \leq \infty$?

I've posted this question on Math Stack Exchange, but I want to bring it here too, because 1) the proof seems missing in the literature, although they are some sporadic mentions and 2) maybe it ...
rgvalenciaalbornoz's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
144 views

Hemispherical space filling hilbert curve

First question here, sorry for any posting infractions. I need to create/find/buy a hemispherical space-filling Hilbert(or similar) curve. something similar to Cube hilbert but only filling a ...
FlashDD's user avatar
  • 131
6 votes
2 answers
394 views

Grand tour of the special orthogonal group

Is there a continuous function $f:[0,+\infty) \to \operatorname{SO}(n)$ whose image is dense in $\operatorname{SO}(n)$ and that is well behaved in certain ways? For each $\varepsilon>0$ it doesn't ...
Michael Hardy's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
146 views

Semistability of restrictions of a semistable vector bundle over a reducible nodal curve

Let $C$ be a reducible nodal curve over complex numbers with two smooth components $C_1$ and $C_2$ intersecting at the only node $P$. Let $E$ be a $\omega$ semistable vector bundle over $C$ of rank $r$...
Babai's user avatar
  • 280
1 vote
0 answers
70 views

Is there an analytic formula (or even a name...) for a plane curve with curvature inversely proportional to x?

I'm interested in plane curves with curvature inversely proportional to distance from the axis: $$\kappa(t) = \left(\frac{x'(t) y''(t) - y'(t)x''(t)}{(x'(t)^2 + y'(t)^2)^{3/2}} \right) = \frac{1}{a x(...
Jacob Schwartz's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
101 views

Existence theory for geometric flow of space curves

Is there any existence theory applicable to general geometric flows of space curves in the following form? $$ \partial_t \gamma = v_t t + v_n n + v_b b $$ Here $\gamma$ is the evolving curve, $t$, $n$ ...
Iruka's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
1 answer
455 views

Higher order inflection points

Consider a smooth plane curve $X\subset\mathbb{P}^2$ of degree $d$. We will say that $x\in X$ is an inflection point of order $s$ if the tangent line $T_xX$, of $X$ at $x\in X$, intersects $X$ in $x\...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
187 views

Configuration of points on a plane curve

Let $C\subset\mathbb{P}^2$ be a smooth plane curve of degree six. On $C$ there are $21$ points given as the intersection points of two lines choosen among a set of seven lines. More precisely there ...
user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
290 views

Connecting a compact subset by a simple curve

Let $K$ be a compact subset of $\mathbb R^n$ with $n\ge 2$ (say if you like $n=2$, which is possibly sufficiently representative). Q: Does there exist a closed simple curve $u:\mathbb S^1\to\mathbb R^...
Pietro Majer's user avatar
  • 55.5k
5 votes
0 answers
353 views

Most divisors on a curve aren't special?

I have a generic smooth curve $C$ of genus $g$ and fixed multiplicities $a_1, \dots, a_n \geq 0$ with $\sum a_i = g+1$. Q1 : For generic marked points $p_1, \dots, p_n \in C$, must $\sum a_i p_i$ be a ...
Leo Herr's user avatar
  • 1,004
0 votes
0 answers
63 views

Question on existence of almost length-minimizing curve in a general domain?

I have the following question: for a general domain $\Omega$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$, is it true that for each pair of points $x,y\in \Omega$, there exists a curve $\gamma$ connecting $x$ and $y$ in $\Omega$...
Math-Physics's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
403 views

Snake algorithm that minimizes straight lines

How can I find the non-self-intersecting loop that uses the least amount of straight lines (curves left/right as often as possible every turn) and still loops back on itself? Here's an example we have ...
Tzlil's user avatar
  • 61
90 votes
5 answers
3k views

Does this property characterize straight lines in the plane?

Take a plane curve $\gamma$ and a disk of fixed radius whose center moves along $\gamma$. Suppose that $\gamma$ always cuts the disk in two simply connected regions of equal area. Is it true that $\...
Alessandro Della Corte's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
50 views

Classification and computation of the entanglements of pairs of planar curves

Let $C$ is the set of continuous $f:[0;1]\to \mathbb R^2$ with $\|f\|=\max_t\|f(t)\|$. For $f,g\in C$ let $(f,g)\in E$ iff $\{f(0),f(1)\}\cap {\rm Range}(g)=\emptyset$ and $\{g(0),g(1)\}\cap {\rm ...
Klaus Weihrauch's user avatar
22 votes
3 answers
3k views

Cardioid-looking curve, does it have a name?

The curve, given in polar coordinates as $r(\theta)=\sin(\theta)/\theta$ is plotted below. This is similar to the classical cardioid, but it is not the same curve (the curve above is not even ...
Per Alexandersson's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
286 views

Is this curve well known?

I consider the curve $c(t)=(x(t),y(t))$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$ such that $\frac{d^2x(t)}{dt^2}=-(a\sin t+b)\frac{dy(t)}{dt}$ $\frac{d^2y(t)}{dt^2}=(a\sin t+b)\frac{dx(t)}{dt}$ $a,b\in\mathbb{R}$ Is the ...
Matsuno's user avatar
  • 83
25 votes
5 answers
2k views

Surprising properties of closed planar curves

In https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.05422 I proved with elementary topological methods that a smooth planar curve with total turning number a non-zero integer multiple of $2\pi$ (the tangent fully turns a ...
Leonardo's user avatar
  • 395
4 votes
0 answers
96 views

Closed curves with minimal total curvature in the unit circle

Chakerian proved in this paper that a closed curve of length L in the unit ball in $\mathbb{R}^n$ has total curvature at least L. In this later paper Chakerian gave a simpler proof and noted that ...
Ivan Meir's user avatar
  • 4,590
19 votes
0 answers
825 views

I found a (probably new) family of real analytic closed Bezier-like curves; is it publishable?

Given $n$ distinct points $\mathbf{x} = (\mathbf{x}_1, \ldots, \mathbf{x}_n)$ in the plane $\mathbb{R}^2$, I associate a real analytic map: $f_{\mathbf{x}}: S^1 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ with the following ...
Malkoun's user avatar
  • 4,769
-1 votes
1 answer
276 views

property of rational functions on projective curves

I have a couple of question about the proof of Lemma 1.20.5 from Janos Kolloar's Lecture on Resolution of Singularities (page 19): Lemma 1.20.5 Let $C$ be a reduced, irreducible projective curve (=1D ...
user267839's user avatar
  • 5,716
2 votes
1 answer
362 views

Very weak Riemann-Roch on curves (by J. Kollar)

I have a question on an unequality used in the proof of the Very weak Riemann-Roch on curves in Janos Kollar's Lecture on Resolution of Singularities (page 14): 1.13 (Very weak Riemann-Roch on curves)...
user267839's user avatar
  • 5,716
1 vote
0 answers
222 views

Proposition from Kollar's Rational Curves on Algebraic Varieties

$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$I have some questions on a proof of Proposition II.3.10 & notations from Rational Curves on Algebraic Varieties by Janos Kollar (page 117). We work in setting ...
user267839's user avatar
  • 5,716
3 votes
1 answer
113 views

Can a closed horizontal trajectory on a Riemann surface be freely homotopic to $0$?

Let $R$ be a Riemann surface and let $\varphi=\varphi(z)dz^2$ be a nonzero holomorphic quadratic differential on $R$. A differentiable curve $\gamma$ on $R$ is called a horizontal trajectory if along ...
trisct's user avatar
  • 273
3 votes
1 answer
83 views

Number of curves in an admissible system of Jordan curves on a surface

Consider a compact Riemann surface of genus $g\geq2$. An admissible system of Jordan curves is a finite collection of Jordan curves $\{\gamma_1,\cdots,\gamma_n\}$ such that they are nonintersecting ...
trisct's user avatar
  • 273
3 votes
1 answer
184 views

Large class of curves which only intersect each other finitely many times

I am trying to find a large subset of piecewise-differentiable plane curves of finite length (subsets of $\mathbb{R}^2$) with the following property: For any pair $\gamma_1, \gamma_2$ of curves in ...
Joe Previdi's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
113 views

cohomology of curves

Let $X$ be a smooth projective complex curve. Consider the diagonal $\Delta$ in $X \times X$, and $\mathcal{O}(\Delta)$ the associated line bundle. If $j$ is the inclusion of $\Delta$ in $X \times X$ ...
user95246's user avatar
  • 237
2 votes
1 answer
258 views

Smooth transformation of a curve with fixed ends and length [duplicate]

I am simulating polymers of fixed length and fixed ends. I would like to search the phase space of all possible conformations quickly. Is there anyway I can generate efficiently a lot of (rather) ...
Davood Norouzi's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
100 views

wild julia sets

Using the Baire category theorem, we may show that most simple closed curves satisfy the following property: any segment between an interior point and an exterior point of the curve intersects the ...
coudy's user avatar
  • 18.4k