Isometric embeddings of polyhedra into Euclidean space

Abstract

In this paper we consider piecewise linear (pl) isometric embeddings of Euclidean polyhedra into Euclidean space. A Euclidean polyhedron is just a metric space [Formula: see text] which admits a triangulation [Formula: see text] such that each n-dimensional simplex of [Formula: see text] is affinely isometric to a simplex in 𝔼n. We prove that any 1-Lipschitz map from an n-dimensional Euclidean polyhedron [Formula: see text] into 𝔼3n is ϵ-close to a pl isometric embedding for any ϵ > 0. If we remove the condition that the map be pl, then any 1-Lipschitz map into 𝔼2n + 1 can be approximated by a (continuous) isometric embedding. These results are extended to isometric embedding theorems of spherical and hyperbolic polyhedra into Euclidean space by the use of the Nash–Kuiper C1 isometric embedding theorem ([9] and [13]).