Bi-invariant metric on the strict contactomorphism group

Abstract

A right-invariant metric $\rho_{\alpha}$ on the compactly supported identity component $Cont_0(M,\alpha)$ of the group of contactomorphisms of an arbitrary contact manifold $(M,\alpha)$ is introduced in a similar way that the Hofer metric was defined on the group of Hamiltonian symplectomorphisms of a symplectic manifold. The restriction of $\rho_{\alpha}$ to the subgroup $G(M,\alpha)$ of all strict contactomorphisms in $Cont_0(M,\alpha)$ is bi-invariant.