Celebratio Mathematica — Freedman

Topology in dImension 4

Works connected to G. Peter Scott

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article M. Freedman, J. Hass, and P. Scott: “Closed geodesics on surfaces,” Bull. London Math. Soc. 14 : 5 (1982), pp. 385–391. MR 0671777 Zbl 0476.53026

Let \( M^2 \) be a closed Riemannian 2-manifold, and let \( \alpha \) denote a non-trivial element of \( \pi_1(M) \). The set of all loops in \( M \) which represent a has a shortest element \( f:\mathbb{S}^1 \rightarrow M \), which can be assumed smooth and which will be a closed geodesic. (We say a loop represents \( \alpha \) when it represents any conjugate of \( \alpha \). Such a loop need not pass through the base point of \( M \).) The map \( f \) cannot be unique, because \( f \) is not necessarily parametrised by arc length and because there is no base point. In general, even the image set of a shortest loop is not unique. In this note, we prove the following result.

Let \( M^2 \) be a closed, Riemannian 2-manifold and let \( \alpha \) denote a non-trivial element of \( \pi_1M \) which is represented by a two-sided embedded loop \( C \). Then any shortest loop \( f:\mathbb{S}^1 \rightarrow M \) representing \( \alpha \) is either an embedding or a double cover of a one-sided embedded curve \( K \). In the second case, \( C \) bounds a Moebius band in \( M \) and \( K \) is isotopic to the centre of this band.

Joel Hass	Related
Peter Scott	Related	Volume