Null Curves and Hypersurfaces of Semi-Riemannian Manifolds

Book excerpt: This is a first textbook that is entirely focused on the up-to-date developments of null curves with their applications to science and engineering. It fills an important gap in a second-level course in differential geometry, as well as being essential for a core undergraduate course on Riemannian curves and surfaces. The sequence of chapters is arranged to provide in-depth understanding of a chapter and stimulate further interest in the next. The book comprises a large variety of solved examples and rigorous exercises that range from elementary to higher levels. This unique volume is self-contained and unified in presenting: ? A systematic account of all possible null curves, their Frenet equations, unique null Cartan curves in Lorentzian manifolds and their practical problems in science and engineering.? The geometric and physical significance of null geodesics, mechanical systems involving curvature of null curves, simple variation problems and the interrelation of null curves with hypersurfaces.