Search arXiv⌕ Search

arXiv · math/0610225

Overdetermined systems, conformal geometry, and the BGG complex

Abstract

This is an expanded version of a series of two lectures given at the IMA summer program "Symmetries and Overdetermined Systems of Partial Differential Equations". The main part of the article describes the Riemannian version of the prolongation procedure for certain overdetermined system obtained recently in joint work with T.P. Branson, M.G. Eastwood, and A.R. Gover. First a simple special case is discussed, then the (Riemannian) procedure is described in general. The prolongation procedure was derived from a simplification of the construction of Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand (BGG) sequences of invariant differential operators for certain geometric structures. The version of this construction for conformal structures is described next. Finally, we discuss generalizations of both the prolongation procedure and the construction of invariant operators to other geometric structures.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Andreas Cap. 2006-10-06. Overdetermined systems, conformal geometry, and the BGG complex. https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0610225

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Curvature equations coupling symmetric tensors with a metric

There are described hierarchies of equations coupling a metric with a trace-free tensor having prescribed symmetries and in the kernel of certain generalized gradients. These specialize, when the tensor vanishes identically, to the usual hierarchy of constant sectional curvature (projectively flat), Einstein, and constant scalar curvature. At the Ricci curvature level these equations are formal analogues of the Einstein-Maxwell and supergravity equations that couple differential forms with a metric. The particular cases coupling a metric with trace-free symmetric tensors satisfying the Codazzi or conformal Killing equations are studied in detail. Examples of solutions are obtained from mean curvature zero immersions, affine spheres, isoparametric hypersurfaces, and related algebraic constructions. The formalism yields a hierarchy of curvature equations for statistical structures. There are deduced constraints on the scalar curvature of the metric occurring in a solution that generalize classical results of Simons, for mean curvature zero hypersurfaces in spheres, and of Calabi, for hyperbolic affine spheres.

math.DG↗

The signature of geometrically decomposable aspherical 4-manifolds

We construct examples of geometrically decomposable aspherical 4-manifolds with non-zero signature. We show that all such 4-manifolds satisfy the inequality (of Bogomolov--Miyaoka--Yau type) $χ\geq 3|σ|$. We also construct examples attaining the equality that are non-geometric and have non-zero signature. Finally, we prove that for higher graph 4-manifolds, with complex-hyperbolic vertices, the strict inequality always holds. Moreover, we construct infinitely many examples of higher graph 4-manifolds with non-zero signature and prove that the inequality is strict and sharp in this class.

math.DG↗

Proper affine deformations of positive representations

We define for every positive Anosov representation of a nonabelian free group into $\mathrm{SO}(2n,2n-1)$ a family of $\mathbb{R}^{4n-1}$-valued cocycles which induce proper affine actions on $\mathbb{R}^{4n-1}$. We construct fundamental domains in $\mathbb{R}^{4n-1}$ bounded by generalized crooked planes for these affine actions, and deduce that the quotient manifolds are homeomorphic to handlebodies.

math.DG↗