Sprays on Hamel-Funk Functions Model

Abstract

Hamel functions of a spray play an important role in the study of the projective metrizability of the concerned spray, and Funk functions are special Hamel functions. A Finsler metric is a special Hamel function of the spray induced by the metric itself and a Funk metric is a special Funk function of a Minkowski spray. In this paper, we study sprays on a Hamel or Funk function model. Firstly, we give some basic properties of a Hamel or Funk function of a spray and some curvature properties of a Hamel or Funk function in projective relations. We use the Funk metric to construct a family of sprays and obtain some of their curvature properties and their metrizability conditions. Secondly, we consider the existence of Funk functions on certain spray manifold. We prove that there exist local Funk functions on a R-flat spray manifold, and on certain projectively flat Berwald spray manifolds, we construct a multitude of nonzero Funk functions. Finally, we introduce a new class of sprays called Hamel or Funk sprays associated to given sprays and Hamel or Funk functions. We obtain some special properties of a Hamel or Funk spray of scalar curvature, especially on its metrizability and a special form of its Riemann curvature.