Symmetric positive-definite matrices: From geometry to applications and visualization

Abstract

In many engineering applications that use tensor analysis, such as tensor imaging, the underlying tensors have the characteristic of being positive definite. It might therefore be more appropriate to use techniques specially adapted to such tensors. We will describe the geometry and calculus on the Riemannian symmetric space of positive-definite tensors. First, we will explain why the geometry, constructed by Emile Cartan, is a natural geometry on that space. Then, we will use this framework to present formulas for means and interpolations specific to positive-definite tensors.