Quaternionic-contact hypersurfaces

Quaternionic contact normal coordinates

This paper constructs a family of coordinate systems about a point on a quaternionic contact manifold, called quaternionic contact pseudohermitian normal coordinates. Once defined, conformal variations of the quaternionic contact structure induce changes on the coordinates which are studied in an effort to simplify the torsion and curvature at the center point.

Quaternionic contact structures in dimension 7

The conformal infinity of a quaternionic-Kahler metric on a 4n-manifold with boundary is a codimension 3-distribution on the boundary called quaternionic contact. In dimensions 4n-1 greater than 7, a quaternionic contact structure is always the conformal infinity of a quaternionic-Kahler metric. On the contrary, in dimension 7, we prove a criterion for quaternionic contact structures to be the conformal infinity of a quaternionic- Kahler metric. This allows us to find the quaternionic-contact structures on the 7-sphere close to the conformal infinity of the quaternionic hyperbolic metric and w…

Hypersurfaces in the noncompact Grassmann manifold SU_{2,m}/S(U_2U_m)

The Riemannian symmetric space SU_{2,m}/S(U_2U_m) is both Hermitian symmetric and quaternionic Kahler symmetric. Let M be a hypersurface in SU_{2,m}/S(U_2U_m) and denote by TM its tangent bundle. The complex structure of SU_{2,m}/S(U_2U_m) determines a maximal complex subbundle C of TM, and the quaternionic structure of SU_{2,m}/S(U_2U_m) determines a maximal quaternionic subbundle Q of TM. In this article we investigate hypersurfaces in SU_{2,m}/S(U_2U_m) for which C and Q are closely related to the shape of M.

The topology of quaternionic contact manifolds

We explore the consequences of curvature and torsion on the topology of quaternionic contact manifolds with integrable vertical distribution. We prove a general Myers theorem and establish a Cartan-Hadamard result for almost qc-Einstein manifolds.

Quaternionic Kaehler and Spin(7) metrics arising from quaternionic contact Einstein structures

We construct left invariant quaternionic contact (qc) structures on Lie groups with zero and non-zero torsion and with non-vanishing quaternionic contact conformal curvature tensor, thus showing the existence of non-flat quaternionic contact manifolds. We prove that the product of the real line with a seven dimensional manifold, equipped with a certain qc structure, has a quaternionic Kaehler metric as well as a metric with holonomy contained in Spin(7). As a consequence we determine explicit quaternionic Kaehler metrics and Spin(7)-holonomy metrics which seem to be new. Moreover, we give expl…

Homogeneous and inhomogeneous isoparametric hypersurfaces in rank one symmetric spaces

We conclude the classification of cohomogeneity one actions on symmetric spaces of rank one by classifying cohomogeneity one actions on quaternionic hyperbolic spaces up to orbit equivalence. As a by-product of our proof, we produce uncountably many examples of inhomogeneous isoparametric families of hypersurfaces with constant principal curvatures in quaternionic hyperbolic spaces.

On the existence of local quaternionic contact geometries

We exploit the Cartan-Kähler theory to prove the local existence of real analytic quaternionic contact structures for any prescribed values of the respective curvature functions and their covariant derivatives at a given point on a manifold. We show that, in a certain sense, the different real analytic quaternionic contact geometries in $4n+3$ dimensions depend, modulo diffeomorphisms, on $2n+2$ real analytic functions of $2n+3$ variables.

On the twistor space of a quaternionic contact manifold

In this note, we prove that the CR manifold which is induced from the canonical parabolic geometry of a quaternionic contact (qc) manifold via a Fefferman-type construction is equivalent to the CR twistor space of the qc manifold defined by O. Biquard.

On the equivalence of quaternionic contact structures

Following the Cartans's original method of equivalence supported by methods of parabolic geometry, we provide a complete solution for the equivalence problem of quaternionic contact structures, that is, the problem of finding a complete system of differential invariants for two quaternionic contact manifolds to be locally diffeomorphic. This includes an explicit construction of the corresponding Cartan geometry and detailed information on all curvature components.

Quaternionic contact Einstein manifolds

The main result is that the qc-scalar curvature of a seven dimensional quaternionic contact Einstein manifold is a constant. In addition, we characterize qc-Einstein structures with certain flat vertical connection and develop their local structure equations. Finally, regular qc-Ricci flat structures are shown to fibre over hyper-Kahler manifolds.

Inverse mean curvature flow in quaternionic hyperbolic space

In this paper we complete the study started in [Pi2] of evolution by inverse mean curvature flow of star-shaped hypersurface in non-compact rank one symmetric spaces. We consider the evolution by inverse mean curvature flow of a closed, mean convex and star-shaped hypersurface in the quaternionic hyperbolic space. We prove that the flow is defined for any positive time, the evolving hypersurface stays star-shaped and mean convex. Moreover the induced metric converges, after rescaling, to a conformal multiple of the standard sub-Riemannian metric on the sphere defined on a codimension 3 distrib…

On seven dimensional quaternionic contact solvable Lie groups

We answer in the affirmative a question posed by Ivanov and Vassilev on the existence of a seven dimensional quaternionic contact manifold with closed fundamental 4-form and non-vanishing torsion endomorphism. Moreover, we show an approach to the classification of seven dimensional solvable Lie groups having an integrable left invariant quaternionic contact structure. In particular, we prove that the unique seven dimensional nilpotent Lie group admitting such a structure is the quaternionic Heisenberg group.

A Lichnerowicz-type result on a seven-dimensional quaternionic contact manifold

In this paper we establish an analogue of the classical Lichnerowicz' theorem giving a sharp lower bound of the first non-zero eigenvalue of the sub-Laplacian on a compact seven-dimensional quaternionic contact manifold, assuming a lower bound of the qc-Ricci tensor, torsion tensor and its distinguished covariant derivatives.

The Almost Schur Lemma in Quaternionic Contact Geometry

We establish quaternionic contact (qc) versions of the so called Almost Schur Lemma, which give estimations of the qc scalar curvature on a compact qc manifold to be a constant in terms of the norm of the $[-1]$-component and the norm of the trace-free part of the $[3]$-component of the horizontal qc Ricci tensor and the torsion endomorphism, under certain positivity conditions.

The sharp lower bound of the first eigenvalue of the sub-Laplacian on a quaternionic contact manifold in dimension seven

A version of Lichnerowicz' theorem giving a lower bound of the eigenvalues of the sub-Laplacian under a lower bound on the Sp(1)Sp(1) component of the qc-Ricci curvature on a compact seven dimensional quaternionic contact manifold is established. It is shown that in the case of a seven dimensional compact 3-Sasakian manifold the lower bound is reached if and only if the quaternionic contact manifold is a round 3-Sasakian sphere.

A note on CR quaternionic maps

We introduce the notion of CR quaternionic map and we prove that any such real-analytic map, between CR quaternionic manifolds, is the restriction of a quaternionic map between quaternionic manifolds. As an application, we prove, for example, that for any submanifold $M$, of dimension $4k-1$, of a quaternionic manifold $N$, such that $TM$ generates a quaternionic subbundle of $TN|_M$, of (real) rank $4k$, there exists, locally, a quaternionic submanifold of $N$, containing $M$ as a hypersurface.

Quaternionic contact Einstein structures and the quaternionic contact Yamabe problem

A partial solution of the quaternionic contact Yamabe problem on the quaternionic sphere is given. It is shown that the torsion of the Biquard connection vanishes exactly when the trace-free part of the horizontal Ricci tensor of the Biquard connection is zero and this occurs precisely on 3-Sasakian manifolods. All conformal deformations sending the standard flat torsion-free quaternionic contact structure on the quaternionic Heisenberg group to a quaternionic contact structure with vanishing torsion of the Biquard connection are explicitly described. A '3-Hamiltonian form' of infinitesimal co…

Quaternionic CR Geometry

Modelled on a real hypersurface in a quaternionic manifold, we introduce a quaternionic analogue of CR structure, called quaternionic CR structure. We define the strong pseudoconvexity of this structure as well as the notion of quaternionic pseudohermitian structure. Following the construction of the Tanaka-Webster connection in complex CR geometry, we construct a canonical connection associated with a quaternionic pseudohermitian structure, when the underlying quaternionic CR structure satisfies the ultra-pseudoconvexity which is stronger than the strong pseudoconvexity. Comparison to Biquard…

On quaternionic contact Fefferman spaces

We investigate the Fefferman spaces of conformal type which are induced, via parabolic geometry, by the quaternionic contact (qc) manifolds introduced by O.Biquard. Equivalent characterizations of these spaces are proved: as conformal manifolds with symplectic conformal holonomy of the appropriate signature; as pseudo-Riemannian manifolds admitting conformal Killing fields satisfying a conformally invariant system of conditions analog to G. Sparling's criteria; and as the total space of a SO(3)- or $S^3$-bundle over a qc manifold with the conformally equivalent metrics defined directly by Biqu…

The qc Yamabe problem on non-spherical quaternionic contact manifolds

It is shown that the qc Yamabe problem has a solution on any compact qc manifold which is non-locally qc equivalent to the standard 3-Sasakian sphere. Namely, it is proved that on a compact non-locally spherical qc manifold there exists a qc conformal qc structure with constant qc scalar curvature

A class of cubic hypersurfaces and quaternionic Kähler manifolds of co-homogeneity one

We classify all complete projective special real manifolds with reducible cubic potential, obtaining four series. For two of the series the manifolds are homogeneous, for the two others the respective automorphism group acts with co-homogeneity one. Complete projective special real manifolds give rise to complete quaternionic Kähler manifolds via the supergravity q-map, which is the composition of the supergravity c-map and r-map. We develop curvature formulas for manifolds in the image of the q-map. Applying the q-map to one of the above series of projective special real manifolds, we obtain …

Conformal quaternionic contact curvature and the local sphere theorem

A tensor invariant is defined on a quaternionic contact manifold in terms of the curvature and torsion of the Biquard connection involving derivatives up to third order of the contact form. This tensor, called quaternionic contact conformal curvature, is similar to the Weyl conformal curvature in Riemannian geometry and to the Chern-Moser tensor in CR geometry. It is shown that a quaternionic contact manifold is locally quaternionic contact conformal to the standard flat quaternionic contact structure on the quaternionic Heisenberg group, or equivalently, to the standard 3-sasakian structure o…

Almost CR quaternionic manifolds and their immersibility in HP^n

We apply the general theory of codimension one integrability conditions for $G$-structures developed in arXiv:1306.6817v3 [math.DG] to the case of quaternionic CR geometry. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for an almost CR quaternionic manifold to admit local immersions as an hypersurface of the quaternionic projective space. We construct a deformation of the standard quaternionic contact structure on the quaternionic Heisenberg group which does not admit local immersions in any quaternionic manifold.

The Obata sphere theorems on a quaternionic contact manifold of dimension bigger than seven

We prove a quaternionic contact versions of the Obata's sphere theorems. We show that if the first positive eigenvalue of the sub-Laplacian on a compact qc manifold of dimension bigger than seven takes the smallest possible value then, up to a homothety of the qc structure, the manifold is qc equivalent to the standard 3-Sasakian sphere. We also give a version of the theorem on non-compact qc manifold which is complete with respect to the associated Riemannian metric using the existence of a function with traceless horizontal Hessian. A qc version of the Liouville theorem is shown for qc-confo…

Extremals for the Sobolev inequality on the seven dimensional quaternionic Heisenberg group and the quaternionic contact Yamabe problem

A complete solution to the quaternionic contact Yamabe problem on the seven dimensional sphere is given. Extremals for the Sobolev inequality on the seven dimensional Hesenberg group are explicitly described and the best constant in the $L^2$ Folland-Stein embedding theorem is determined.

The twistor space of a quaternionic contact manifold

We show that the CR structure on the twistor space of a quaternionic contact structure described by Biquard is normal if and only if the Ricci curvature of the Biquard connection commutes with the endomorphisms in the quaternionic structure of the contact distribution.

The monotonicity of an entropy like energy for the heat equation on a quaternionic contact and CR manifolds

A proof of the monotonicity of an entropy like energy for the heat equation on a quaternionic contact and CR manifolds is proven

Quaternionic contact manifolds with a closed fundamental 4-form

We show that the fundamental 4-form on a quaternionic contact manifold of dimension at least eleven is closed if and only if the torsion endomorphism of the Biquard connection vanishes. This condition characterizes quaternionic contact structures which are locally qc homothetic to 3-Sasakian structures.

Weyl connections and the local sphere theorem for quaternionic contact structures

We apply the theory of Weyl structures for parabolic geometries developed by A. Cap and J. Slovak in to compute, for a quaternionic contact (qc) structure, the Weyl connection associated to a choice of scale, i.e. to a choice of Carnot-Carathéodory metric in the conformal class. The result of this computation has applications to the study of the conformal Fefferman space of a qc manifold. In addition to this application, we are also able to easily compute a tensorial formula for the qc analog of the Weyl curvature tensor in conformal geometry and the Chern-Moser tensor in CR geometry. This ten…

A heat equation on a quaternionic contact manifold

A quaternionic contact (qc) heat equation and the corresponding qc energy functional are introduced. It is shown that the qc energy functional is monotone non-increasing along the qc heat equation on a compact qc manifold provided certain positivity conditions are satisfied.

Explicit Quaternionic Contact Structures and Metrics with Special Holonomy

We construct explicit left invariant quaternionic contact structures on Lie groups with zero and non-zero torsion, and with non-vanishing quaternionic contact conformal curvature tensor, thus showing the existence of quaternionic contact manifolds not locally quaternionic contact conformal to the quaternionic sphere. We present a left invariant quaternionic contact structure on a seven dimensional non-nilpotent Lie group, and show that this structure is locally quaternionic contact conformal to the flat quaternionic contact structure on the quaternionic Heisenberg group. On the product of a se…

The Obata first eigenvalue theorems on a seven dimensional quaternionic contact manifold

We show that a compact quaternionic contact manifold of dimension seven that satisfies a Lichnerowicz-type lower Ricci-type bound and has the $P$-function of any eigenfunction of the sub-Laplacian non-negative achieves its smallest possible eigenvalue only if the structure is qc-Einstein. In particular, under the stated conditions, the lowest eigenvalue is achieved if and only if the manifold is qc-equivalent to the standard $3$-Sasakian sphere.

Contact hypersurfaces in Kaehler manifolds

A contact hypersurface in a Kaehler manifold is a real hypersurface for which the induced almost contact metric structure determines a contact structure. We carry out a systematic study of contact hypersurfaces in Kaehler manifolds. We then apply these general results to obtain classifications of contact hypersurfaces with constant mean curvature in the complex quadric SO(n+2)/SO(n)SO(2) and its noncompact dual space SO(n,2)/SO(n)SO(2) for n > 2.

The Lichnerowicz and Obata first eigenvalue theorems and the Obata uniqueness result in the Yamabe problem on CR and quaternionic contact manifolds

We report on some aspects and recent progress in certain problems in the sub-Riemannian CR and quaternionic contact (QC) geometries. The focus are the corresponding Yamabe problems on the round spheres, the Lichnerowicz-Obata first eigenvalue estimates, and the relation between these two problems. A motivation from the Riemannian case highlights new and old ideas which are then developed in the settings of Iwasawa sub-Riemannian geometries.

Intrinsic torsion in quaternionic contact geometry

We investigate quaternionic contact (qc) manifolds from the point of view of intrinsic torsion. We argue that the natural structure group for this geometry is a non-compact Lie group K containing Sp(n)H^*, and show that any qc structure gives rise to a canonical K-structure with constant intrinsic torsion, except in seven dimensions, when this condition is equivalent to integrability in the sense of Duchemin. We prove that the choice of a reduction to Sp(n)H^* (or equivalently, a complement of the qc distribution) yields a unique K-connection satisfying natural conditions on torsion and curvat…

Complex almost contact metric structures on complex hypersurfaces in hyperkahler manifolds

In this paper, we construct complex metric structures on complex hypersurfaces in hyperkahler manifolds. This construction is that in contact geometry.

The sharp lower bound of the first eigenvalue of the sub-Laplacian on a quaternionic contact manifold

The main technical result of the paper is a Bochner type formula for the sub-laplacian on a quaternionic contact manifold. With the help of this formula we establish a version of Lichnerowicz' theorem giving a lower bound of the eigenvalues of the sub-Laplacian under a lower bound on the $Sp(n)Sp(1)$ components of the qc-Ricci curvature. It is shown that in the case of a 3-Sasakian manifold the lower bound is reached iff the quaternionic contact manifold is a round 3-Sasakian sphere. Another goal of the paper is to establish a-priori estimates for square integrals of horizontal derivatives of …

Heat kernel asymptotics for quaternionic contact manifolds

In this paper, we study the heat kernel associated to the intrinsic sublaplacian on a quaternionic contact manifold considered as a subriemannian manifold. More precisely, we explicitly compute the first two coefficients $c_0$ and $c_1$ appearing in the small time asymptotics expansion of the heat kernel on the diagonal. We show that the second coefficient $c_1$ depends linearly on the qc scalar curvature $κ$. Finally we apply our results to compact qc-Einstein manifolds and prove the spectral invariance of geometric quantities in the subriemannian setting.

Quaternionic Heisenberg groups as naturally reductive homogeneous spaces

In this note, we describe the geometry of the quaternionic Heisenberg groups from a Riemannian viewpoint. We show, in all dimensions, that they carry an almost $3$-contact metric structure which allows us to define the metric connection that equips these groups with the structure of a naturally reductive homogeneous space. It turns out that this connection, which we shall call the canonical connection because of its analogy to the $3$-Sasaki case, preserves the horizontal and vertical distributions and even the quaternionic contact structure of the quaternionic Heisenberg groups. We focus on t…

On the geometry of null hypersurfaces of indefinite complex contact manifolds

We study the geometry of null hypersurfaces in indefinite complex contact manifolds. We prove several classification results for a variety of well-known null hypersurfaces, including the totally umbilic, totally screen umbilic, and the screen conformal ones. Furthermore, a characterization of the ambient space is given in case the underlying null hypersurface is totally contact umbilic, totally contact screen umbilic or contact screen conformal, i.e. we have proved that the ambient complex contact manifold must be a space of constant $GH$-sectional curvature of $-3$.

Delaunay-type hypersurfaces in cohomogeneity one manifolds

Classical Delaunay surfaces are highly symmetric constant mean curvature (CMC) submanifolds of space forms. We prove the existence of Delaunay-type hypersurfaces in a large class of compact manifolds, using the geometry of cohomogeneity one group actions and variational bifurcation techniques. Our construction specializes to the classical examples in round spheres, and allows to obtain Delaunay-type hypersurfaces in many other ambient spaces, ranging from complex and quaternionic projective spaces to Kervaire exotic spheres.

Real hypersurfaces in complex space forms attaining equality in an inequality involving a contact $δ$-invariant

We investigate real hypersurfaces in complex space forms attaining equality in an inequality involving the contact $δ$-invariant $δ^c(2)$ introduced by Chen and Mihai in [3].

Robust index bounds for minimal hypersurfaces of isoparametric submanifolds and symmetric spaces

We find many examples of compact Riemannian manifolds $(M,g)$ whose closed minimal hypersurfaces satisfy a lower bound on their index that is linear in their first Betti number. Moreover, we show that these bounds remain valid when the metric $g$ is replaced with $g'$ in a neighbourhood of $g$. Our examples $(M,g)$ consist of certain minimal isoparametric hypersurfaces of spheres; their focal manifolds; the Lie groups $SU(n)$ for $n\leq 17$, and $Sp(n)$ for all $n$; and all quaternionic Grassmannians.

Fano Manifolds, Contact Structures, and Quaternionic Geometry

Let Z be a compact complex (2n+1)-manifold which carries a {\em complex contact structure}, meaning a codimension-1 holomorphic sub-bundle D of TZ which is maximally non-integrable. If Z admits a Kähler-Einstein metric of positive scalar curvature, we show that it is the Salamon twistor space of a quaternion-Kähler manifold (M^{4n}, g). If Z also admits a second complex contact structure, then Z= CP_{2n+1}. As an application, we give several new characterizations of the Riemannian manifold HP_n=Sp(n+1)/( Sp(n)\times Sp(1)).

四元数Kähler流形上的solvsoliton纤维化

Quaternionic Kähler manifolds fibered by solvsolitons

本文研究余维数为一的四元数Kähler流形主轨道，证明零变形参数下由solvsoliton纤维化，变形后仍为可解流形但失去Ricci孤子性质。

A Bonnet-Myers type theorem for quaternionic contact structures

We prove a Bonnet-Myers type theorem for quaternionic contact manifolds of dimension bigger than 7. If the manifold is complete with respect to the natural sub-Riemannian distance and satisfies a natural Ricci-type bound expressed in terms of derivatives up to the third order of the fundamental tensors, then the manifold is compact and we give a sharp bound on its sub-Riemannian diameter.

Contact Path Geometries

Contact path geometries are curved geometric structures on a contact manifold comprising smooth families of paths modeled on the family of all isotropic lines in the projectivization of a symplectic vector space. Locally such a structure is equivalent to the graphs in the space of independent and depedent variables of the family of solutions of a system of an odd number of second order ODE's subject to a single maximally non-integrable constraint. A subclass of contact path geometries is distinguished by the vanishing of an invariant contact torsion. For this subclass the equivalence problem i…

四元数接触几何中热方程的Li-Yau次梯度估计与Perelman型熵公式

Li-Yau sub-gradient estimates and Perelman-type entropy formulas for the heat equation in quaternionic contact geometry

本文在紧致四元数接触流形上建立qc热方程的Li-Yau型次梯度估计，并在qc-爱因斯坦流形上推导Perelman型熵公式，推广了经典黎曼几何结果。

Projective geometry of 3-Sasaki structures

We show that $3$-Sasaki structures admit a natural description in terms of projective differential geometry. This description provides a concrete link between $3$-Sasaki structures and several other geometries and constructions via a single unifying picture. First we establish that a $3$-Sasaki structure may be understood as a projective structure equipped with a certain holonomy reduction to the (possibly indefinite) unitary quaternionic group $\textrm{Sp}(p,q)$, namely a parallel hyperkähler structure on the projective tractor bundle satisfying a particular genericity condition. For the conv…

共形仿四元数切触曲率与局部平坦性定理

Conformal paraquaternionic contact curvature and the local flatness theorem

该研究在仿四元数切触流形上定义了仿四元数切触共形曲率张量，并证明该张量为零是流形与标准平坦仿四元数切触结构局部共形等价的充要条件。

A Maximum Principle for hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ with an Ideal Contact at Infinity and Bounded Mean Curvature

We will generalize a Maximum Principle at Infinity in the parabolic case given by De Lima [Ann. Global Anal. Geom. ${\bf 20}$, 325-343 2001] and De Lima and Meeks [Indiana Univ. Math. Journal ${\bf 53}$ 5, 1211-1223 2004], for disjoints hypersurfaces of $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ with bounded mean curvature without restrictions on the Gaussian curvature. We will also extend for hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ a generalization of Hopf's Maximum Principle for hypersurfaces that get close asymptotically.

Fat分布中水平浸入的存在性

Existence of Horizontal Immersions in Fat Distributions

本文为余秩2的fat分布定义了数值不变量“度”，并利用Gromov的h-原理技术证明了任意流形到度为2的fat分布及四元数接触结构中水平浸入的存在性。

New classes of null hypersurfaces in indefinite Sasakian space-forms

We introduce two classes of null hypersurfaces of an indefinite Sasakian manifold, $(\overline{M}, \overlineϕ,ζ, η)$, tangent to the characteristic vector field $ζ$, called; {\it contact screen conformal} and {\it contact screen umbilic} null hypersurfaces. These hypersurfaces come in to fill the existing gap in screen conformal and screen totally umbilic null hypersurfaces. We prove that such hypersurfaces are contained in indefinite Sasakian space forms of constant $\overlineϕ$-sectional curvature of $-3$.

Hypersurfaces of Lorentzian para-Sasakian manifolds

In this paper, we study the invariant and noninvariant hypersurfaces of (1,1,1) almost contact manifolds, Lorentzian almost paracontact manifolds and Lorentzian para-Sasakian manifolds, respectively. We show that a noninvariant hypersurface of an (1,1,1) almost contact manifold admits an almost product structure. We investigate hypersurfaces of affinely cosymplectic and normal (1,1,1) almost contact manifolds. It is proved that a noninvariant hypersurface of a Lorentzian almost paracontact manifold is an almost product metric manifold. Some necessary and sufficient conditions have been given f…