From Funk to Hilbert geometry

Abstract

We survey some basic geometric properties of the Funk metric of a convex set in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. In particular, we study its geodesics, its topology, its metric balls, its convexity properties, its perpendicularity theory and its isometries. The Hilbert metric is a symmetrization of the Funk metric, and we show some properties of the Hilbert metric that follow directly from the properties we prove for the Funk metric.