Differential Geometry and Topology

course: On SO(3) geometry in dimension 5

speaker: Pawel Nurowski (Warsaw University)

abstract: We consider the nonstandard inclusion of SO(3) in SO(5) associated with a 5-dimensional irreducible representation. The tensor t representing this reduction is found to be given by a ternary symmetric form with special properties. A 5-dimensional manifold (M,g,t) with Riemannian metric g and ternary form generated by such a tensor has a corresponding SO(3) structure, whose Gray-Hervella type classification is established using so(3) valued connections with torsion. Structures with antisymmetric torsions are studied in detail. In particular, it is shown that the integrable models (those with vanishing torsion) are isometric to the symmetric spaces M+= SU(3)SO(3), M-=SL(3,R)SO(3), M0=(SO(3)xR5)SO(3) We also find all SO(3) structures with transitive symmetry groups.

Given an SO(3) structure (M,g,t), we define its "twistor space" Z to be the S2 bundle of those unit 2-forms on M which span R3=so(3). The 7-dimensional twistor manifold Z is then naturally equipped with several CR and G2 structures. The ensuing integrability conditions are discussed and interpreted in terms of the Gray-Hervella type classification.

timetable:
Fri 12 Nov, 10:00 - 11:15, Sala Conferenze Centro De Giorgi
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