On the classification of Landsberg spherically symmetric Finsler metrics

Abstract

In this paper, as an application of the inverse problem of calculus of variations, we investigate two compatibility conditions on the spherically symmetric Finsler metrics. By making use of these conditions, we focus our attention on the Landsberg spherically symmetric Finsler metrics. We classify all spherically symmetric manifolds of Landsberg or Berwald types. For the higher dimensions n ≥ 3, we prove that all Landsberg spherically symmetric manifolds are either Riemannian or their geodesic sprays have a specific formula; all regular Landsberg spherically symmetric metrics are Riemannian; all (regular or non-regular) Berwald spherically symmetric metrics are Riemannian. Moreover, we establish new unicorns, i.e. new explicit examples of non-regular non-Berwaldian Landsberg metrics are obtained. For the two-dimensional case, we characterize all Berwald or Landsberg spherically symmetric surfaces.