Geometry of the Fisher–Rao metric on the space of smooth densities on a compact manifold

Abstract

AbstractIt is known that on a closed manifold of dimension greater than one, every smooth weak Riemannian metric on the space of smooth positive densities that is invariant under the action of the diffeomorphism group, is of the form urn:x-wiley:0025584X:media:mana201600523:mana201600523-math-0001for some smooth functions of the total volume . Here we determine the geodesics and the curvature of this metric and study geodesic and metric completeness.