Skip to main content
Log in

Twistors, 4-symmetric spaces and integrable systems

  • Published:
Mathematische Annalen Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An order four automorphism of a Lie algebra gives rise to an integrable system introduced by Terng. We show that solutions of this system may be identified with certain vertically harmonic twistor lifts of conformal maps of surfaces in a Riemannian symmetric space. As applications, we find that surfaces with holomorphic mean curvature in 4-dimensional real or complex space forms constitute an integrable system as do Hamiltonian stationary Lagrangian surfaces in 4-dimensional Hermitian symmetric spaces (this last providing a conceptual explanation of a result of Hélein-Romon).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bohle, C.: Constrained Willmore tori in the 4-sphere (2008). arXiv:math.DG/0803.0633

  2. Brander, D., Dorfmeister, J.: Generalized DPW method and an application to space forms (2006). arXiv:math.DG/0604247

  3. Burstall, F.E., Calderbank, D.: Conformal submanifold geometry. In preparation

  4. Burstall F.E., Ferus D., Pedit F., Pinkall U.: Harmonic tori in symmetric spaces and commuting Hamiltonian systems on loop algebras. Ann. Math. 138, 173–212 (1993)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Hasegawa K.: On surfaces whose twistor lifts are harmonic sections. J. Geom. Phys. 57, 1549–1566 (2007)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Hélein, F., Romon, P.: Hamiltonian stationary Lagrangian surfaces in Hermitian symmetric spaces. Differential geometry and integrable systems (Tokyo 2000), Contemp. Math., vol.308, pp. 161–178. Amer. Math. Soc., Providence (2002)

  7. Hélein F., Romon P.: Hamiltonian stationary Lagrangian surfaces in \({\mathbb{C}^2}\) . Comm. Anal. Geom. 10(1), 79–126 (2002)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Hélein F., Romon P.: Hamiltonian stationary tori in the complex projective plane. Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 90(3), 472–496 (2005)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Hitchin N.J.: Harmonic maps from a 2-torus to the 3-sphere. J. Diff. Geom 31, 627–710 (1990)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  10. Khemar, I.: Surfaces isotropes de \({\mathbb{O}}\) et systèmes intégrables. J. Differ. Geom. 79(3), 479–516 (2008). MR MR2433930

  11. Khemar, I.: Geometric interpretation of second elliptic integrable system. Differ. Geom. Appl. (to appear)

  12. Oh Y.-G.: Volume minimization of Lagrangian submanifolds under Hamiltonian deformations. Math. Z 212(2), 175–192 (1993)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  13. Ohnita Y., Valli G.: Pluriharmonic maps into compact Lie groups and factorization into unitons. Proc. Lond. Math. Soc 61, 546–570 (1990)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Pohlmeyer K.: Integrable Hamiltonian systems and interactions through quadratic constraints. Commun. Math. Phys. 46, 207–221 (1976)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  15. Terng, C.-L.: Geometries and Symmetries of Soliton equations and Integrable Elliptic equations (2002). arXiv:math/0212372

  16. Uhlenbeck K.: Harmonic maps into Lie groups (classical solutions of the chiral model). J. Diff. Geom. 30, 1–50 (1989)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. Wood C.M.: Harmonic sections of homogeneous fibre bundles. Differ. Geom. Appl. 19, 193–210 (2003)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  18. Zakharov V.E., Mikhaǐlov A.V.: Relativistically invariant two-dimensional models of field theory which are integrable by means of the inverse scattering problem method. Zh. Èksper. Teoret. Fiz 74, 1953–1973 (1978)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  19. Zakharov V.E., Shabat A.B.: Integration of non-linear equations of mathematical physics by the method of inverse scattering, II. Funkts. Anal. i Prilozhen 13, 13–22 (1978)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francis E. Burstall.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Burstall, F.E., Khemar, I. Twistors, 4-symmetric spaces and integrable systems. Math. Ann. 344, 451–461 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00208-008-0313-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00208-008-0313-5

Keywords

Navigation