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conjugate points (Definition)

Let $M$ be a manifold on which a notion of geodesic is defined. (For instance, $M$ could be a Riemannian manifold, $M$ could be a manifold with affine connection, or $M$ could be a Finsler space.)

Two distinct points, $P$ and $Q$ of $M$ are said to be conjugate points if there exist two or more distinct geodesic segments having $P$ and $Q$ as endpoints.

A simple example of conjugate points are the north and south poles of a sphere (endowed with the usual metric of constant curvature) -- every meridian is a geodesic segment having the poles as endpoints.




"conjugate points" is owned by rspuzio.
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Cross-references: poles, curvature, metric, sphere, south poles, simple, endpoints, segments, points, affine connection, Riemannian manifold, geodesic, manifold
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This is version 2 of conjugate points, born on 2004-09-10, modified 2004-09-11.
Object id is 6159, canonical name is ConjugatePoints.
Accessed 2551 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC53B05 (Differential geometry :: Local differential geometry :: Linear and affine connections)

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Conjugate vs. Transverse Axes/Radii? by Kaimbridge on 2009-04-09 17:15:24
Is the poles being "conjugate points" from which the y-axis of an ellipse/spheroid is considered the conjugate axis/diameter?:

 http://books.google.com/books?id=Uk4wAAAAMAAJ&jtp=381

If so, then how can "ConjugateDiametersOfEllipse" be?:

 http://images.planetmath.org:8080/cache/objects/9907/l2h/img35.png

Aren't they actually "oblique diameters"?
In "A treatise on analytical geometry", on pg.199, conjugate and transverse axes are noted, regarding oblate and prolate spheroids:

 http://books.google.com/books?id=uHcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA199

But, back on pg.107, the above concept of "ConjugateDiametersOfEllipse" appears to being discussed

 http://books.google.com/books?id=uHcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA107

How can that be? Are these two different meanings of "conjugate diameter?

 ~Kaimbridge~
 
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