Comparison of invariant metrics and distances on strongly pseudoconvex domains and worm domains

Abstract: We prove that for a strongly pseudoconvex domain $D\subset\mathbb C^n$, the infinitesimal Carath\'eodory metric $g_C(z,v)$ and the infinitesimal Kobayashi metric $g_K(z,v)$ coincide if $z$ is sufficiently close to $bD$ and if $v$ is sufficiently close to being tangential to $bD$. Also, we show that every two close points of $D$ sufficiently close to the boundary and whose difference is almost tangential to $bD$ can be joined by a (unique up to reparameterization) complex geodesic of $D$ which is also a holomorphic retract of $D$. The same continues to hold if $D$ is a worm domain, as long as the points are sufficiently close to a strongly pseudoconvex boundary point. We also show that a strongly pseudoconvex boundary point of a worm domain can be globally exposed, this has consequences for the behavior of the squeezing function.