We establish explicit formulae for canonical factorizations of extended solutions corresponding to harmonic maps of finite uniton number into the exceptional Lie group $G_2$ in terms of the Grassmannian model for the group of based algebraic loops in $G_2$. A description of the ``Frenet frame data" for such harmonic maps is given. In particular, we show that harmonic spheres into $G_2$ correspond to solutions of certain algebraic systems of quadratic and cubic equations.
In this paper we describe how the operation of adding a uniton arises via the DPW method of obtaining harmonic maps into compact Riemannian symmetric spaces out of certain holomorphic one forms. We exploit this point of view to investigate which unitons preserve finite type property of harmonic maps. In particular, we prove that the Gauss bundle of a harmonic map of finite type into a Grassmannian is also of finite type.
We classify all harmonic maps with finite uniton number from a Riemann surface into an arbitrary compact simple Lie group $G$, whether $G$ has trivial centre or not, in terms of certain pieces of the Bruhat decomposition of the group $Ω_\mathrm{alg}{G}$ of algebraic loops in $G$ and corresponding canonical elements. This will allow us to give estimations for the minimal uniton number of the corresponding harmonic maps with respect to different representations and to make more explicit the relation between previous work by different authors on harmonic two-spheres in classical compact Lie group…
In this paper, we develop a loop group description of harmonic maps $\mathcal{F}: M \rightarrow G/K$ ``of finite uniton type", from a Riemann surface $M$ into inner symmetric spaces of compact or non-compact type. This develops work of Uhlenbeck, Segal, and Burstall-Guest to non-compact inner symmetric spaces. To be more concrete, we prove that every harmonic map of finite uniton type from any Riemann surface into any compact or non-compact inner symmetric space has a normalized potential taking values in some nilpotent Lie subalgebra, as well as a normalized frame with initial condition ident…
This is primarily a survey of the developments in the theory of harmonic maps of finite uniton number (or unitons) which have taken place since the introduction of extended solutions by Uhlenbeck. Such maps include all harmonic maps from the two-sphere to a compact Lie group or symmetric space. Extended solutions are equivalent to harmonic maps, but the advantage of extended solutions is the fact that they are solutions to a zero curvature equation. The closely related complex extended solutions (or complex extended frames) are in fact even more advantageous, as has been pointed out by Dorfmei…
We present an explicit description of all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface into a complex Grassmannian. Namely, starting from a constant map $Q$ and a collection of meromorphic functions and their derivatives, we show how to algebraically construct all harmonic maps from the two-sphere into a given Grassmannian $G_p(\mathbb C^n)$. In this setting the uniton number depends on $Q$ and $p$ and we obtain a sharp estimate for it.
We use filtrations of the Grassmannian model to produce explicit algebraic formulae for all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface, and so all harmonic maps from the 2-sphere, to the unitary group for a general class of factorizations by unitons. We show how these specialize to give explicit formulae for such harmonic maps to each of the classical compact Lie groups and their inner symmetric spaces - the nonlinear sigma-model of particle physics. Our methods also give an explicit Iwasawa decomposition of the algebraic loop group.
We show that a twistor construction of Hitchin and Ward can be adapted to study unitons (harmonic spheres in a unitary group). Specifically, we show that unitons are equivalent to holomorphic bundles with extra structure over a rational ruled surface with energy given by Chern class. This equivalence allows us to confirm the conjecture of Wood that unitons are rational. We also construct an example of a two uniton in U(3) using this construction.
We show that given a harmonic map $φ$ from a Riemann surface to a classical compact simply connected inner symmetric space, there is a $J_2$-holomorphic twistor lift of $φ$ (or its negative) if and only if it is nilconformal. In the case of harmonic maps of finite uniton number, we give algebraic formulae in terms of holomorphic data which describes their extended solutions. In particular, this gives explicit formulae for the twistor lifts of all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a surface to the above symmetric spaces.
We extend many known results for harmonic maps from the 2-sphere into a Grassmannian to harmonic maps of finite uniton number from an arbitrary Riemann surface. Our method relies on a new theory of nilpotent cycles arising from the diagrams of F.E.~Burstall and the second author associated to such harmonic maps; these properties arise from a criterion for finiteness of the uniton number found recently by the authors with A.~Aleman. Applications include a new classification result on minimal surfaces of constant curvature and a constancy result for finite type harmonic maps.
Unitons, i.e.\ harmonic spheres in a unitary group, correspond to \lq uniton bundles\rq, i.e.\ holomorphic bundles over the compactified tangent space to the complex line with certain triviality and other properties. In this paper, we use a monad representation similar to Donaldson's representation of instanton bundles to obtain a simple formula for the unitons. Using the monads, we show that real triviality for uniton bundles is automatic. We interpret the uniton number as the `length' of a jumping line of the bundle, and identify the uniton bundles which correspond to based maps into Grassma…
We show that a harmonic map from a Riemann surface into the exceptional symmetric space $G_2/{\mathrm SO}(4)$ has a $J_2$-holomorphic twistor lift into one of the three flag manifolds of $G_2$ if and only if it is `nilconformal', i.e., has nilpotent derivative. Then we find relationships with almost complex maps from a surface into the 6-sphere; this enables us to construct examples of nilconformal harmonic maps into $G_2/{\mathrm SO}(4)$ which are not of finite uniton number, and which have lifts into any of the three twistor spaces. Harmonic maps of finite uniton number are all nilconformal;…
Uhlenbeck introduced an invariant, the (minimal) uniton number, of harmonic 2-spheres in a Lie group G and proved that when G=SU(n) the uniton number cannot exceed n-1. In this paper, using new methods inspired by Morse Theory, we explain this result and extend it to an arbitrary compact group G. The same methods also yield Weierstrass formulae for these harmonic maps and simple proofs of most of the known classification theorems for harmonic 2-spheres in symmetric spaces.
We classify all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface into SU(n) in terms of certain pieces of the Bruhat decomposition of the subgroup of algebraic loops in SU(n). We give a description of the "Frenet frame data" for such harmonic maps in a given class.
We find algebraic parametrizations of extended solutions of harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a surface to the orthogonal group O(n) in terms of free holomorphic data which lead to formulae for all such harmonic maps. Our work reveals an interesting correspondence between certain harmonic maps and the free Weierstrass representation of null curves and minimal surfaces in 3- and 4-space.
This paper aims to provide a description of totally isotropic Willmore two-spheres and their adjoint transforms. We first recall the isotropic harmonic maps which are introduced by Hélein, Xia-Shen and Ma for the study of Willmore surfaces. Then we derive a description of the normalized potential (some Lie algebra valued meromorphic 1-forms) of totally isotropic Willmore two-spheres in terms of the isotropic harmonic maps. In particular, the corresponding isotropic harmonic maps are of finite uniton type. The proof also contains a concrete way to construct examples of totally isotropic Willmor…
We investigate in detail the connection between harmonic maps from Riemann surfaces into the unitary group $\U(n)$ and their Grassmannian models: these are families of shift-invariant subspaces of $L^2(S^1,\C^n)$. With the help of operator-theoretic methods we derive a criterion for finiteness of the uniton number which has a large number of applications discussed in the paper.
Applying the DPW version of the theory developed by Burstall and Guest for harmonic maps of finite uniton type, we derive a coarse classification of Willmore two-spheres in $S^{n+2}$ in terms of the normalized potential of their (harmonic) conformal Gauss maps. Moreover, for the case of $S^6$, some geometric properties of the corresponding Willmore two-spheres are discussed. The classical classification of Willmore two-spheres in $S^4$ are also derived as a corollary.
We give a completely explicit formula for all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface to the unitary group U(n) in any dimension, and so all harmonic maps from the 2-sphere, in terms of freely chosen meromorphic functions on the surface and their derivatives, using only combinations of projections and avoiding the usual dbar-problems or loop group factorizations. We interpret our constructions using Segal's Grassmannian model, giving an explicit factorization of the algebraic loop group, and showing how to obtain harmonic maps into a Grassmannian.
In the paper, we study variation formulas for transversally harmonic maps and bi-harmonic maps, respectively. We also study the transversal Jacobi field along a map and give several relations with infinitesimal automorphisms.
In this paper, we study the existence of harmonic and bi-harmonic maps into Riemannian manifolds admitting a conformal vector field, or a nontrivial Ricci solitons.
J. Eells and L. Lemaire introduced k-harmonic maps, and Wang Shaobo showed the first variational formula. When, k=2, it is called biharmonic maps (2-harmonic maps). There have been extensive studies in the area. In this paper, we consider the relationship between biharmonic maps and k-harmonic maps, and show non-existence theorem of 3-harmonic maps. We also give the definition of k-harmonic submanifolds of Euclidean spaces, and study k-harmonic curve in Euclidean spaces. Futhermore, we give a conjecture for k-harmonic submanifolds of Euclidean spaces.
Both bi-harmonic map and $f$-harmonic map have nice physical motivation and applications. In this paper, by combination of these two harmonic maps, we introduce and study $f$-bi-harmonic maps as the critical points of the $f$-bi-energy functional $\frac{1}{2}\int_M f|τ(ϕ)|^2dv_{g}$. This class of maps generalizes both concepts of harmonic maps and bi-harmonic maps. We first derive the $f$-biharmonic map equation and then use it to study $f$-bi-harmonicity of some special maps, including conformal maps between manifolds of same dimensions, some product maps between direct product manifold and s…
In this note, we investigate estimates of the Morse index for F-harmonic maps into spheres, our results extend partially those obtained in ([14]) and ([15]) for harmonic and p-harmonic maps.
Conformal harmonic maps from a 4-dimensional conformal manifold to a Riemannian manifold are maps satisfying a certain conformally invariant fourth order equation. We prove a general existence result for conformal harmonic maps, analogous to the Eells-Sampson theorem for harmonic maps. The proof uses a geometric flow and relies on results of Gursky-Viaclovsky and Lamm.
In this paper, we extend the definition of p-harmonic and p-biharmonic maps between Riemannian manifolds. We present some new properties for the generalized stable p-harmonic maps.
$α$-Dirac-harmonic maps are variations of Dirac-harmonic maps, analogous to $α$-harmonic maps that were introduced by Sacks-Uhlenbeck to attack the existence problem for harmonic maps from surfaces. For $α>1$, the latter are known to satisfy a Palais-Smale condtion, and so, the technique of Sacks-Uhlenbeck consists in constructing $α$-harmonic maps for $α>1$ and then letting $α\to 1$. The extension of this scheme to Dirac-harmonic maps meets with several difficulties, and in this paper, we start attacking those. We first prove the existence of nontrivial perturbed $α$-Dirac-harmonic maps when …
The CR analogue of B.-Y. Chen's conjecture on pseudo biharmonic maps will be shown. Pseudo biharmonic, but not pseudo harmonic, isometric immersions with parallel pseudo mean curvature vector fields, will be characterized. Several examples of pseudo biharmonic maps will be given.
In this note, we show that some F-harmonic maps into spheres are global maxima of the variations of their energy functional on the conformal group of the sphere. Our result extends partially those obtained in [15] and [17] for harmonic and p-harmonic maps.
J.Eells and L. Lemaire introduced k-harmonic maps, and T. Ichiyama, J. Inoguchi and H.Urakawa showed the first variation formula. In this paper, we give the second variation formula of k-harmonic maps, and show non-existence theorem of proper k-harmonic maps into a Riemannian manifold of non-positive curvature (k >= 2). We also study k-harmonic maps into the product Riemannian manifold, and describe the ordinary differential equations of 3-harmonic curves and 4-harmonic curves into a sphere, and show their non-trivial solutions.
We study the transversally harmonic maps between foliated Riemannian manifolds. In particular, we prove that under some curvature conditions, any transversally harmonic map is transversally totally geodesic.
In this paper, we give some rigidity results for both harmonic and pseudoharmonic maps from CR manifolds into Riemannian manifolds or Kahler manifolds. Some basicity, pluriharmonicity and Siu-Sampson type results are established for both harmonic maps and pseudoharmonic maps.
Characterizations for Riemannian submersions to be harmonic or biharmonic are shown. Examples of biharmonic but not harmonic Riemannian submersions are shown.
We factorize harmonic maps with values in a semisimple Lie groups in a product of harmonic maps with values in the components of the Iwasawa decomposition. In particular, we use this factorization to study the harmonic maps from $\mathbb{R}^n$ into $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$.
In this paper, we prove that the class of bi-f-harmonic maps and that of f-biharmonic maps from a conformal manifold of dimension not equal to 2 are the same (Theorem 1.1). We also give several results on nonexistence of proper bi-f-harmonic maps and f-biharmonic maps from complete Riemannian manifolds into nonpositively curved Riemannian manifolds. These include: any bi-f-harmonic map from a compact manifold into a non-positively curved manifold is f-harmonic (Theorem 1.6), and any f-biharmonic (respectively, bi-f-harmonic) map with bounded f and bounded f-bienrgy (respectively, bi-f-energy) …
We relate the existence problem of harmonic maps into $S^2$ to the convex geometry of $S^2$. On one hand, this allows us to construct new examples of harmonic maps of degree 0 from compact surfaces of arbitrary genus into $S^2$. On the other hand, we produce new example of regions that do not contain closed geodesics (that is, harmonic maps from $S^1$) but do contain images of harmonic maps from other domains. These regions can therefore not support a strictly convex function. Our construction builds upon an example of W. Kendall, and uses M. Struwe's heat flow approach for the existence of ha…
We prove uniqueness of equivariant harmonic maps into irreducible symmetric spaces of non-compact type and Euclidean buildings associated to isometric actions by Zariski dense subgroups.
Harmonic morphisms are maps between Riemannian manifolds that pull back harmonic functions to harmonic functions. These maps are characterized as horizontally weakly conformal harmonic maps and they have many interesting links and applications to several areas in mathematics (see the book by Baird and Wood for details). In this paper, we study generalized harmonic morphisms which are defined to be maps between Riemannian manifolds that pull back harmonic functions to biharmonic functions. We obtain some characterizations of generalized harmonic morphisms into a Euclidean space and give two met…
The heat flow for Dirac-harmonic maps on Riemannian spin manifolds is a modification of the classical heat flow for harmonic maps by coupling it to a spinor. It was introduced by Chen, Jost, Sun, and Zhu as a tool to get a general existence program for Dirac-harmonic maps. For source manifolds with boundary they obtained short time existence and the existence of a global weak solution was established by Jost, Liu, and Zhu. We prove short time existence of the heat flow for Dirac-harmonic maps on closed manifolds.
In this paper, we consider transversally harmonic maps between Riemannian manifolds with Riemannian foliations. In terms of the Bochner techniques and sub-Laplacian comparison theorem, we are able to establish a generalization of the Schwarz lemma for transversally harmonic maps of bounded generalized transversal dilatation. In addition, we also obtain a Schwarz type lemma for transversally holomorphic maps between Kähler foliations.
In this paper, we investigate the stability problem of subelliptic harmonic maps with potential. First, we derive the first and second variation formulas for subelliptic harmonic maps with potential. As a result, it is proved that a subelliptic harmonic map with potential is stable if the target manifold has nonpositive curvature and the Hessian of the potential is nonpositive definite. We also give Leung type results which involve the instability of subelliptic harmonic maps with potential when the target manifold is a sphere of dimension $\geq 3$.
Our purpose is to use a Darboux homogenous derivative to understand the harmonic maps with values in homogeneous space. We present a characterization of these harmonic maps from the geometry of homogeneous space. Furthermore, our work covers all type of invariant geometry in homogeneous space.
Shoen and Uhlenbeck showed that ``tangent maps'' can be defined at singular points of energy minimizing maps. Unfortunately these are not unique, even for generic boundary conditions. Examples are discussed which have isolated singularities with a continuum of distinct tangent maps.
In this paper, we investigate subelliptic harmonic maps with potential from noncompact complete sub-Riemannian manifolds corresponding to totally geodesic Riemannian foliations. Under some suitable conditions, we give the gradient estimates of these maps and establish a Liouville type result.
We study the existence of harmonic maps and Dirac-harmonic maps from degenerating surfaces to non-positive curved manifold via the scheme of Sacks and Uhlenbeck. By choosing a suitable sequence of $α$-(Dirac-)harmonic maps from a sequence of suitable closed surfaces degenerating to a hyperbolic surface, we get the convergence and a cleaner energy identity under the uniformly bounded energy assumption. In this energy identity, there is no energy loss near the punctures. As an application, we obtain an existence result about (Dirac-)harmonic maps from degenerating (spin) surfaces. If the energie…
We generalize the Uhlenbeck-Segal theory for harmonic maps into compact semi-simple Lie groups to general Lie groups equipped with torsion free bi-invariant connection.
We study the blow-up analysis and qualitative behavior for a sequence of harmonic maps with free boundary from degenerating bordered Riemann surfaces with uniformly bounded energy. With the help of Pohozaev type constants associated to harmonic maps defined on degenerating collars, including vertical boundary collars and horizontal boundary collars, we establish a generalized energy identity.
