[Math] No diffeomorphism that takes unit circle to unit square

diffeomorphismdifferential-geometry

This is not a homework problem. I am trying to learn my own from John M. Lee's Introduction to Smooth Manifolds.

In Chapter 3, there is the problem 3-4

Let $C \subset \mathbb{R}^2$ be the unit circle, and let $S \subset \mathbb{R}^2$ be the boundary of the square of side 2 centred at origin: $S= \lbrace (x,y) \colon \max(|x|,|y|)=1 \rbrace.$
Show that there is a homeomorphism $F:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ such that $F(C)=S$, but there is no diffeomorphism with the same property. [Hint: Consider what $F$ does to the tangent vector to a suitable curve in $C$].

I can construct a homeomorphism (by placing the circle inside the square and then every radial line intersects the square at exactly one point). But, I don't know how to do the rest of the problem or understand the hint.

I do not know how to write out what tangent space should be for the square. If there were a diffeomorphism then $F_\star$ is isomorphism between any two tangent space. If I show that the tangent space on the corner of square has dimension zero, would it solve problem?

Best Answer

Here's a somewhat rigorous way to see this. Let $\gamma$ be an arc in $C$ such that $F\circ \gamma(0)$ is the corner (1,1). Then (assuming it goes clockwise) there are some functions $x$ and $y$ such that $F \circ \gamma(t) = (1,y(t))$ for $t< 0$ and $F \circ \gamma(t) = (x(t),1)$ for $t > 0$. Thus $F_*\gamma'(t)$ is $(0,y'(t))$ for $t<0$ and $(x'(t),0)$ for $t > 0$. Taking limits, this means that $F_*\gamma'(0) = 0$ contradicting that $\gamma'(0) \ne 0$.