Extension of a problem of Euler in Lorentz-Minkowski plane

Abstract

In this paper we study curves in Lorentz-Minkowski space ${\mathbb{L}}^2$ that are critical points of the moment of inertia with respect to the origin. This extends a problem posed by Euler in the Lorentzian setting. We obtain explicit solutions for stationary curves in ${\mathbb{L}}^2$ distinguishing if the curve is spacelike or timelike. We also give a method to carry stationary spacelike curves into stationary timelike curves and vice versa via symmetries and inversions about the lightlike cone. Finally, we solve the problem of maximizing the energy among all spacelike curves joining two given points which are collinear with the origin.

arXiv comment20 pages, 6 figures