We study a generalization of constant Gauss curvature -1 surfaces in Euclidean 3-space, based on Lorentzian harmonic maps, that we call pseudospherical frontals. We analyze the singularities of these surfaces, dividing them into those of characteristic and non-characteristic type. We give methods for constructing all non-degenerate singularities of both types, as well as many degenerate singularities. We also give a method for solving the singular geometric Cauchy problem: construct a pseudospherical frontal containing a given regular space curve as a non-degenerate singular curve. The solution is unique for most curves, but for some curves there are infinitely many solutions, and this is encoded in the curvature and torsion of the curve.
On the basis of loop group decompositions (Birkhoff decompositions), we give a discrete version of the nonlinear d'Alembert formula, a method of separation of variables of difference equations, for discrete constant negative Gauss curvature (pseudospherical) surfaces in Euclidean three space. We also compute two examples by this formula in detail.
In this paper, we provide families of second order non-linear partial differential equations, describing pseudospherical surfaces (pss equations), with the property of having local isometric immersions in E^3, with principal curvatures depending on finite-order jets of solutions of the differential equation. These equations occupy a particularly special place amongst pss equations, since a series of recent papers [2, 7, 11, 12, 13], on several classes of pss equations, seemed to suggest that only the sine-Gordon equation had the above property. Explicit examples are given, which include the sh…
Wave maps (or Lorentzian-harmonic maps) from a $1+1$-dimensional Lorentz space into the $2$-sphere are associated to constant negative Gaussian curvature surfaces in Euclidean 3-space via the Gauss map, which is harmonic with respect to the metric induced by the second fundamental form. We give a method for constructing germs of Lorentzian-harmonic maps from their $k$-jets and use this construction to study the singularities of such maps. We also show how to construct pseudospherical surfaces with prescribed singularities using loop groups. We study the singularities of pseudospherical surface…
We define and discuss the notion of pseudospherical surfaces in asymptotic coordinates on time scales. Two special cases, namely dicrete pseudospherical surfaces and smooth pseudosperical surfaces are consistent with this description. In particular, we define the Gaussian curvature in the discrete case.
Second order partial differential equations which describe spherical surfaces (ss) or pseudospherical surfaces (pss) are considered. These equations are equivalent to the structure equations of a metric with Gaussian curvature $K = 1$ or $K = -1$, respectively, and they can be seen as the compatibility condition of an associated su(2)-valued or sl(2, R)-valued linear problem, also referred to as a zero curvature representation. Under certain assumptions we give a complete and explicit classiffcation of equations of the form $z_{tt} = A(z, z_x , z_t) z_{xx} + B(z, z_x , z_t ) z_{xt} + C(z, z_x …
The class of differential equations describing pseudospherical surfaces enjoys important integrability properties which manifest themselves by the existence of infinite hierarchies of conservation laws (both local and non-local) and the presence associated linear problems. It thus contains many important known examples of integrable equations, like the sine-Gordon, Liouville, KdV, mKdV, Camassa-Holm and Degasperis-Procesi equations, and is also home to many new families of integrable equations. Our paper is concerned with the question of the local isometric immersion in ${\bf E}^{3}$ of the ps…
Third order equations, which describe spherical surfaces (ss) or pseudospherical surfaces (pss), of the form \[ ν\,z_{t}-λ\,z_{xxt}=A(z,z_{x},z_{xx})\,z_{xxx}+B(z,z_{x},z_{xx}) \] with $ν$, $λ$ $\in$ $\mathbb{R}$, $ν^2+λ^2\neq 0$, are considered. These equations are equivalent to the structure equations of a metric with Gaussian curvature $K=1$ or $K=-1$, respectively. Alternatively they can be seen as the compatibility condition of an associated $\mathfrak{su}(2)$-valued or $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb{R})$-valued linear problem, also referred to as a zero curvature representation. Under certain …
We define and discuss the notion of pseudospherical surfaces in asymptotic coordinates on time scales. Thus we extend well known notions of discrete pseudospherical surfaces and smooth pseudosperical surfaces on more exotic domains (e.g, the Cantor set). In particular, we present a new expression for the discrete Gaussian curvature which turns out to be valid for asymptotic nets on any time scale. We show that asymptotic Chebyshev nets on an arbitrary time scale have constant negative Gaussian curvature. We present also the quaternion-valued spectral problem (the Lax pair) and the Darboux-Back…
We apply the loop group method developed by Zakharov-Shabat, Terng-Uhlenbeck and Toda to the study of symmetries of pseudospherical surfaces in R^3. In this paper (part I) we consider the general theory, while in a second paper (part II) we will study special cases.
The paper presents a generalized Weierstrass representation for pseudospherical surfaces in terms of 3x3 matrices, using moving frames and loop group decompositions. The construction of all such surfaces, starting from a given representation, constitutes the subject of a separate, ulterior report. The appendix of the present work gives an elementary proof of the Birkhoff decomposition theorem for "loop-groups" of spectral parameter based on the real line, instead of the unit circle.
In this paper we consider surfaces with one or two families of spherical curvature lines. We show that every surface with a family of spherical curvature lines can locally be generated by a pair of initial data: a suitable curve of Lie sphere transformations and a spherical Legendre curve. We then provide conditions on the initial data for which such a surface is Lie applicable, an integrable class of surfaces that includes cmc and pseudospherical surfaces. In particular we show that a Lie applicable surface with exactly one family of spherical curvature lines must be generated by the lift of …
A novel class of integrable surfaces is recorded. This class of O surfaces is shown to include and generalize classical surfaces such as isothermic, constant mean curvature, minimal, `linear' Weingarten, Guichard and Petot surfaces and surfaces of constant Gaussian curvature. It is demonstrated that the construction of a Backlund transformation for O surfaces leads in a natural manner to an associated parameter-dependent linear representation. The classical pseudosphere and breather pseudospherical surfaces are generated.
The geometric Cauchy problem for a class of surfaces in a pseudo-Riemannian manifold of dimension 3 is to find the surface which contains a given curve with a prescribed tangent bundle along the curve. We consider this problem for constant negative Gauss curvature surfaces (pseudospherical surfaces) in Euclidean 3-space, and for timelike constant non-zero mean curvature (CMC) surfaces in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space. We prove that there is a unique solution if the prescribed curve is non-characteristic, and for characteristic initial curves (asymptotic curves for pseudospherical surfaces and …
We investigate singularities of all parallel surfaces to a given regular surface. In generic context, the types of singularities of parallel surfaces are cuspidal edge, swallowtail, cuspidal lips, cuspidal beaks, cuspidal butterfly and 3-dimensional $D_4^\pm$ singularities. We give criteria for these singularities types in terms of differential geometry (Theorem 3.4 and 3.5).
We shall investigate maximal surfaces in Minkowski 3-space with singularities. Although the plane is the only complete maximal surface without singular points, there are many other complete maximal surfaces with singularities and we show that they satisfy an Osserman-type inequality.
In this paper we define and analyze singularities of discrete linear Weingarten surfaces with Weierstrass-type representations in $3$-dimensional Riemannian and Lorentzian spaceforms. In particular, we discuss singularities of discrete surfaces with non-zero constant Gaussian curvature, and parallel surfaces of discrete minimal and maximal surfaces, and discrete constant mean curvature $1$ surfaces in de Sitter $3$-space, including comparisons with different previously known definitions of such singularities.
We use integrable systems techniques to study the singularities of timelike non-minimal constant mean curvature (CMC) surfaces in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space. The singularities arise at the boundary of the Birkhoff big cell of the loop group involved. We examine the behaviour of the surfaces at the big cell boundary, generalize the definition of CMC surfaces to include those with finite, generic singularities, and show how to construct surfaces with prescribed singularities by solving a singular geometric Cauchy problem. The solution shows that the generic singularities of the generalized su…
In this paper, we study the curve shortening flow (CSF) on Riemann surfaces. We generalize Huisken's comparison function to Riemann surfaces and surfaces with conic singularities. We reprove the Gage-Hamilton-Grayson theorem on surfaces. We also prove that for embedded simple closed curves, CSF can not touch conic singularities with cone angles $\leq π$.
We establish what semi-discrete linear Weingarten surfaces with Weierstrass-type representations in $3$-dimensional Riemannian and Lorentzian spaceforms are, confirming their required properties regarding curvatures and parallel surfaces, and then classify them. We then define and analyze their singularities. In particular, we discuss singularities of (1) semi-discrete surfaces with non-zero constant Gaussian curvature, (2) parallel surfaces of semi-discrete minimal and maximal surfaces, and (3) semi-discrete constant mean curvature $1$ surfaces in de Sitter $3$-space. We include comparisons w…
In this paper, we study the singularities of spacelike constant mean curvature one (CMC 1) surfaces in the de Sitter 3-space. We prove the duality between generalized conelike singular points and 5/2-cuspidal edges on spacelike CMC 1 surfaces. To describe the duality between $A_{k+3}$ singularities and cuspidal $S_k$ singularities, we introduce two invariants, called the $α$-invariant and $σ$-invariant, of spacelike CMC 1 surfaces at their singular points. Moreover, we give a classification of non-degenerate singular points on spacelike CMC 1 surfaces.
We construct examples of flat surfaces in $\mathbb{H}^3$ which are graphs over a two-punctured horosphere and classify complete embedded flat surfaces in $\mathbb{H}^3$ with only one end and at most two isolated singularities.
We solve the problem on flat extensions of a generic surface with boundary in Euclidean 3-space, relating it to the singularity theory of the envelope generated by the boundary. We give related results on Legendre surfaces with boundaries via projective duality and observe the duality on boundary singularities. Moreover we give formulae related to remote singularities of the boundary-envelope.
In this paper, we study the (normalized) Ricci flow on surfaces with conical singularities. Long time existence is proved for cone angle smaller than $2π$. In this case, convergence results are obtained if the Euler number is nonpositive.
In this paper, Legendre curves on unit tangent bundle are given using rotation minimizing (RM) vector fields. Ruled surfaces corresponding to these curves are represented. Singularities of these ruled surfaces are also analyzed and classifed.
We study the equation for improper (parabolic) affine spheres from the view point of contact geometry and provide the generic classification of singularities appearing in geometric solutions to the equation as well as their duals. We also show the results for surfaces of constant Gaussian curvatureand for developable surfaces. In particular we confirm that generic singularities appearing in such a surface are just cuspidal edges and swallowtails.
The conditions for a cuspidal edge, swallowtail and other fundamental singularities are given in the context of Lie sphere geometry. We then use these conditions to study the Lie sphere transformations of a surface.
By constructing an ODE through a kind of meromorphic 1-forms, we will give an explicit construction of a kind of conformal metrics of constant curvature on Riemann surfaces with singularities. As an application, we will classify constant curvature one metrics on $S^{2}$ with two conical singularities, which was first proved by Troyanov in \cite{Tr89} by using projective connection.
We show that the singularities of spacelike maximal surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space generically consist of cuspidal edges, swallowtails and cuspidal cross caps. The same result holds for spacelike mean curvature one surfaces in de Sitter 3-space. To prove these, we shall give a simple criterion for a given singular point on a surface to be a cuspidal cross cap.
The Backlund transformation for pseudospherical surfaces, which is equivalent to that of the sine-Gordon equation, can be restricted to give a transformation on space curves that preserves constant torsion. We study its effects on closed curves (in particular, elastic rods) that generate multiphase solutions for the vortex filament flow (also known as the Localized Induction Equation). In doing so, we obtain analytic constant-torsion representatives for a large number of knot types.
It is known that the class of developable surfaces which have zero Gaussian curvature in three dimensional Euclidean space is preserved by the parallel transformations. A tangent developable surface is defined as a ruled developable surface by tangent lines to a space curve and it has singularities at least along the space curve, called the directrix or the the edge of regression. Also the class of tangent developable surfaces are invariant under the parallel deformations. In this paper the notions of tangent developable surfaces and their parallels are naturally generalized for frontal curves…
It is given the diffeomorphism classification on generic singularities of tangent varieties to curves with arbitrary codimension in a projective space. The generic classifications are performed in terms of certain geometric structures and differential systems on flag manifolds, via several techniques in differentiable algebra. It is provided also the generic diffeomorphism classification of singularities on tangent varieties to contact-integral curves in the standard contact projective space. Moreover we give basic results on the classification of singularities of tangent varieties to generic …
Zakalyukin's lemma asserts that the coincidence of the images of two wave front germs implies the right equivalence of corresponding map germs under a certain genericity assumption. The purpose of this paper is to give an improvement of this lemma for frontals. Moreover, we give several applications for singularities on surfaces.
In this paper we study the blow up sequence of mean curvature flow of surfaces in $\mathbb R^3$ with additional forces. We prove that the blow up limit of a mean curvature flow of smoothly embedded surfaces with additional forces with finite entropy is a smoothly embedded self-shrinker.
We prove that for a mean curvature flow of a compact symplectic surface in a compact Kaehler-Einstein surface, the tangent cone at the first blow-up time consists of a finite union of more than two 2-planes in $R^4$ which are complex in a complex structure on $R^4$.
We give the complete solution to the local diffeomorphism classification problem of generic singularities which appear in tangent surfaces, in as wider situations as possible. We interpret tangent geodesics as tangent lines whenever a (semi-)Riemannian metric, or, more generally, an affine connection is given in an ambient space of arbitrary dimension. Then, given an immersed curve, or, more generally a directed curve or a frontal curve which has well-defined tangent directions along the curve, we define the tangent surface as the ruled surface by tangent geodesics to the curve. We apply the c…
This paper studies the normalized Ricci flow on surfaces with conical singularities. It's proved that the normalized Ricci flow has a solution for a short time for initial metrics with conical singularities. Moreover, the solution makes good geometric sense. For some simple surfaces of this kind, for example, the tear drop and the football, it's shown that they admit Ricci soliton metric.
In the 3-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space we prove that the sign of the Gaussian curvature of any timelike minimal surface is determined by the degeneracy and the orientations of the two null curves that generate the surface. Moreover, we also investigate the behavior of the Gaussian curvature near singular points of a timelike minimal surface which admits some kind of singular points.
In this note we discuss the geometry of Riemannian surfaces having a discrete set of singular points. We assume the conformal structure extends through the singularities and the curvature is integrable. Such points are called \emph{simple singularities}. We first describe them locally and then globally using the notion of (real) divisor. We formulate a Gauss-Bonnet formula and relate it to some asymptotic isoperimetric ratio. We prove a classifications theorem for flat metrics with simple singularities on a compact surface and discuss the Berger--Nirenberg Problem on surfaces with a divisor. W…
We prove that the difference between the numbers of positive swallowtails and negative swallowtails of the Blaschke normal map for a given convex surface in affine space is equal to the Euler number of the subset where the affine shape operator has negative determinant.
We prove that finite area isolated singularities of surfaces with constant positive curvature in R^3 are removable singularities, branch points or immersed conical singularities. We describe the space of immersed conical singularities of such surfaces in terms of the class of real analytic closed locally convex curves in the 2-sphere with admissible cusp singularities, characterizing when the singularity is actually embedded. In the global setting, we describe the space of peaked spheres in R^3, i.e. compact convex surfaces of constant positive curvature with a finite number of singularities, …
We study symplectic deformation types of minimal symplectic fillings of links of quotient surface singularities. In particular, there are only finitely many symplectic deformation types for each quotient surface singularity.
In this paper we study the problem of existence of orbifold Kaehler-Einstein metrics on del Pezzo surfaces of degree 1 with Du Val singular points. Moreover we compute global log canonical thresholds of del Pezzo surfaces of degree 1 with Du Val singularities and of del Pezzo surfaces of Picard rank 1 with Du Val singularities.
We develop a theory for distributed branch points and investigate their role in determining the shape and influencing the mechanics of thin hyperbolic objects. We show that branch points are the natural topological defects in hyperbolic sheets, they carry a topological index which gives them a degree of robustness, and they can influence the overall morphology of a hyperbolic surface without concentrating energy. We develop a discrete differential geometric (DDG) approach to study the deformations of hyperbolic objects with distributed branch points. We present evidence that the maximum curvat…
We study conformal metrics with prescribed Gaussian curvature on surfaces with conical singularities and geodesic boundary in supercritical regimes. Exploiting a variational argument, we derive a general existence result for surfaces with at least two boundary components. This seems to be the first result in this setting. Moreover, we allow to have conical singularities with both positive and negative orders, that is cone angles both less and grater than $2π$.
We prove that any compact surface with constant positive curvature and conical singularities can be decomposed into irreducible components of standard shape, glued along geodesic arcs connecting conical singularities. This is a spherical analog of the geometric triangulations for flat surfaces with conical singularities. The irreducible components include not only spherical triangles but also other interesting spherical polygons. In particular, we present the class of \textit{half-spherical concave polygons} that are spherical polygons without diagonals and that can be arbitrarily complicated.…
We consider singularities of frontal surfaces of corank one and finite frontal codimension. We look at the classification under left-right-equivalence and introduce the notion of frontalisation for singularities of fold type. We define the cuspidal and the transverse double point curves and prove that the frontal has finite codimension if and only if both curves are reduced. Finally, we also discuss about the frontal versions of the Marar-Mond formulas and the Mond's conjecture.
We consider an inverse problem associated with some 2-dimensional non-compact surfaces with conical singularities, cusps and regular ends. Our motivating example is a Riemann surface $\mathcal M = Γ\backslash{\bf H}^2$ associated with a Fuchsian group of the 1st kind $Γ$ containing parabolic elements. $\mathcal M$ is then non-compact, and has a finite number of cusps and elliptic singular points, which is regarded as a hyperbolic orbifold. We introduce a class of Riemannian surfaces with conical singularities on its finite part, having cusps and regular ends at infinity, whose metric is asympt…
