On the flat geometry of the cuspidal edge

Abstract

We study the geometry of the cuspidal edge $M$ in $\mathbb R^3$ derived from its contact with planes and lines (referred to as flat geometry). The contact of $M$ with planes is measured by the singularities of the height functions on $M$. We classify submersions on a model of $M$ by diffeomorphisms and recover the contact of $M$ with planes from that classification. The contact of $M$ with lines is measured by the singularities of orthogonal projections of $M$. We list the generic singularities of the projections and obtain the generic deformations of the apparent contour (profile) when the direction of projection varies locally in $S^2$. We also relate the singularities of the height functions and of the projections to some geometric invariants of the cuspidal edge.