Sfb 288 Differential Geometry and Quantum Physics

Discrete Curves
Discrete Elastic Curves and Spinning Tops

Elastic curves are curves that obtain only euclidian transformations under a linear combination of tangent and smoke ring flow. The tangent vector of such a curve is the movement of the axis of a spinning top. The left picture shows a discrete elastic curve. The right one is the spherical image of its tangent vector. There is an Oorange network by Charlie Gunn for the investigation of these curves.

An elastic curve...	... and its tangent vectors

Author: Alexander Bobenko