February 2023 Local equivalence of some maximally symmetric rolling distributions and $SU(2)$ Pfaffian systems
Matthew RANDALL
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Hokkaido Math. J. 52(1): 97-128 (February 2023). DOI: 10.14492/hokmj/2021-502

Abstract

We give a description of Nurowski's conformal structure for some examples of bracket-generating rank 2 distributions in dimension 5, aka $(2,3,5)$-distributions, namely the An-Nurowski circle twistor distribution for pairs of surfaces of constant Gauss curvature rolling without slipping or twisting over each other. In the case of hyperboloid surfaces whose curvature ratios give maximally symmetric $(2,3,5)$-distributions, we find the change of coordinates that map the conformal structure to the flat metric of Engel. We also consider a rank $3$ Pfaffian system in dimension 5 with $SU(2)$ symmetry obtained by rotating two of the 1-forms in the Pfaffian system of the spheres rolling distribution, and discuss complexifications of such distributions.

Funding Statement

The earliest version of the manuscript is supported by the Grant agency of the Czech Republic P201/12/G028.

Citation

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Matthew RANDALL. "Local equivalence of some maximally symmetric rolling distributions and $SU(2)$ Pfaffian systems." Hokkaido Math. J. 52 (1) 97 - 128, February 2023. https://doi.org/10.14492/hokmj/2021-502

Information

Received: 25 January 2021; Revised: 29 November 2021; Published: February 2023
First available in Project Euclid: 2 March 2023

Digital Object Identifier: 10.14492/hokmj/2021-502

Subjects:
Primary: 53C18 , 58A15

Keywords: $(2,3,5)$-distributions , Pfaffian systems , split $\frak{g}_2$ Lie algebra

Rights: Copyright c 2023 Hokkaido University, Department of Mathematics

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Vol.52 • No. 1 • February 2023
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