Projectively equivalent metrics, exact transverse line fields and the geodesic flow on the ellipsoid

Abstract

We give a new proof of the complete integrability of the geodesic flow on the ellipsoid (in Euclidean, spherical or hyperbolic space). The proof is based on the construction of a metric on the ellipsoid whose non-parameterized geodesics coincide with those of the standard metric. This new metric is induced by the hyperbolic metric inside the ellipsoid (Klein's model).