A note on the Hodge theory for functionals with linear growth

We study the Hodge decomposition of L ¹-(and measure-) differential forms over a compact manifold without boundary, giving positive results and counterexamples. The theory is then applied to the relaxation and minimization, in cohomology classes, of convex functionals with linear growth. This corresponds to a non-linear version of the Hodge theory, in the spirit of L. M. Sibner and R. J. Sibner [SS]. Received: 19 November 1997 / Revised version: 18 May 1998     

Normal forms for lagrangian distributions on 5-dimensional contact manifolds

A contact distribution C on a manifold M determines a symplectic bundle C→M. In this paper we find normal forms for its lagrangian distributions by classifying vector fields lying in C. Such vector fields are divided into three types and described in terms of the simplest ones (characteristic fields of 1st order PDE's). After having established the equivalence between parabolic Monge-Ampère equations (MAE's) and lagrangian distributions in terms of characteristics, as an application of our results we give normal forms for parabolic MAE's.     

Partial differential equations with differential constraints

A geometric setting for constrained exterior differential systems on fibered manifolds with n-dimensional bases is proposed. Constraints given as submanifolds of jet bundles (locally defined by systems of first-order partial differential equations) are shown to carry a natural geometric structure, called the canonical distribution. Systems of second-order partial differential equations subjected to differential constraints are modeled as exterior differential systems defined on constraint submanifolds. As an important particular case, Lagrangian systems subjected to first-order differential constraints are considered. Different kinds of constraints are introduced and investigated (Lagrangian constraints, constraints adapted to the fibered structure, constraints arising from a (co)distribution, semi-holonomic constraints, holonomic constraints).     

Graded Poisson structures on the algebra of differential forms

We study the graded Poisson structures defined on Ω(M), the graded algebra of differential forms on a smooth manifoldM, such that the exterior derivative is a Poisson derivation. We show that they are the odd Poisson structures previously studied by Koszul, that arise from Poisson structures onM. Analogously, we characterize all the graded symplectic forms on ΩM) for which the exterior derivative is a Hamiltomian graded vector field. Finally, we determine the topological obstructions to the possibility of obtaining all odd symplectic forms with this property as the image by the pullback of an automorphism of Ω(M) of a graded symplectic form of degree 1 with respect to which the exterior derivative is a Hamiltonian graded vector field.     

Regular submanifolds, graphs and area formula in Heisenberg groups

We describe intrinsically regular submanifolds in Heisenberg groups Hn. Low dimensional and low codimensional submanifolds turn out to be of a very different nature. The first ones are Legendrian surfaces, while low codimensional ones are more general objects, possibly non-Euclidean rectifiable. Nevertheless we prove that they are graphs in a natural group way, as well as that an area formula holds for the intrinsic Hausdorff measure. Finally, they can be seen as Federer-Fleming currents given a natural complex of differential forms on Hn.     

On variational approach to differential invariants of rank two distributions

We construct differential invariants for generic rank 2 vector distributions on n-dimensional manifolds, where n?5. Our method for the construction of invariants is completely different from the Cartan reduction-prolongation procedure. It is based on the dynamics of the field of so-called abnormal extremals (singular curves) of rank 2 distribution and on the theory of unparameterized curves in the Lagrange Grassmannian, developed in [A. Agrachev, I. Zelenko, Geometry of Jacobi curves I, J. Dynam. Control Syst. 8 (1) (2002) 93-140; II, 8 (2) (2002) 167-215]. In this way we construct the fundamental form and the projective Ricci curvature of rank 2 vector distributions for arbitrary n?5. In the next paper [I. Zelenko, Fundamental form and Cartan's tensor of (2,5)-distributions coincide, J. Dynam. Control. Syst., in press, SISSA preprint, Ref. 13/2004/M, February 2004, math.DG/0402195] we show that in the case n=5 our fundamental form coincides with the Cartan covariant biquadratic binary form, constructed in 1910 in [E. Cartan, Les systemes de Pfaff a cinque variables et les equations aux derivees partielles du second ordre, Ann. Sci. Ecole Normale 27 (3) (1910) 109-192; reprinted in: Oeuvres completes, Partie II, vol. 2, Gautier-Villars, Paris, 1953, pp. 927-1010]. Therefore first our approach gives a new geometric explanation for the existence of the Cartan form in terms of an invariant degree four differential on an unparameterized curve in Lagrange Grassmannians. Secondly, our fundamental form provides a natural generalization of the Cartan form to the cases n>5. Somewhat surprisingly, this generalization yields a rational function on the fibers of the appropriate vector bundle, as opposed to the polynomial function occurring when n=5. For n=5 we give an explicit method for computing our invariants and demonstrate the method on several examples.     

Maurer–Cartan forms and the structure of Lie pseudo-groups

This paper begins a series devoted to developing a general and practical theory of moving frames for infinite-dimensional Lie pseudo-groups. In this first, preparatory part, we present a new, direct approach to the construction of invariant Maurer–Cartan forms and the Cartan structure equations for a pseudo-group. Our approach is completely explicit and avoids reliance on the theory of exterior differential systems and prolongation. The second paper [60] will apply these constructions in order to develop the moving frame algorithm for the action of the pseudo-group on submanifolds. The third paper [61] will apply Gr?bner basis methods to prove a fundamental theorem on the freeness of pseudo-group actions on jet bundles, and a constructive version of the finiteness theorem of Tresse and Kumpera for generating systems of differential invariants and also their syzygies. Applications of the moving frame method include practical algorithms for constructing complete systems of differential invariants and invariant differential forms, classifying their syzygies and recurrence relations, analyzing invariant variational principles, and solving equivalence and symmetry problems arising in geometry and physics.     

Killing forms on symmetric spaces

Killing forms on Riemannian manifolds are differential forms whose covariant derivative is totally skew-symmetric. We show that a compact simply connected symmetric space carries a non-parallel Killing p-form (p?2) if and only if it isometric to a Riemannian product Sk×N, where Sk is a round sphere and k>p.     

The conformal Killing equation on forms—prolongations and applications

We construct a conformally invariant vector bundle connection such that its equation of parallel transport is a first order system that gives a prolongation of the conformal Killing equation on differential forms. Parallel sections of this connection are related bijectively to solutions of the conformal Killing equation. We construct other conformally invariant connections, also giving prolongations of the conformal Killing equation, that bijectively relate solutions of the conformal Killing equation on k-forms to a twisting of the conformal Killing equation on (k−?)-forms for various integers ?. These tools are used to develop a helicity raising and lowering construction in the general setting and on conformally Einstein manifolds.     

Differential invariants of surfaces

The algebra of differential invariants of a suitably generic surface S⊂R³, under either the usual Euclidean or equi-affine group actions, is shown to be generated, through invariant differentiation, by a single differential invariant. For Euclidean surfaces, the generating invariant is the mean curvature, and, as a consequence, the Gauss curvature can be expressed as an explicit rational function of the invariant derivatives, with respect to the Frenet frame, of the mean curvature. For equi-affine surfaces, the generating invariant is the third order Pick invariant. The proofs are based on the new, equivariant approach to the method of moving frames.     

Linearized inverse problem for the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map on differential forms

For a compact n-dimensional Riemannian manifold (M,g) with boundary i:∂M⊂M, the Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DN) map Λg:Ωk(∂M)→Ωn−k−1(∂M) is defined on exterior differential forms by Λgφ=i^∗(?dω), where ω solves the boundary value problem Δω=0, i^∗ω=φ, i^∗δω=0. For a symmetric second rank tensor field h on M, let be the Gateaux derivative of the DN map in the direction h. We study the question: for a given (M,g), how large is the subspace of tensor fields h satisfying ? Potential tensor fields belong to the subspace since the DN map is invariant under isomeries fixing the boundary. For a manifold of an even dimension n, the DN map on (n/2−1)-forms is conformally invariant, therefore spherical tensor fields belong to the subspace in the case of k=n/2−1. The manifold is said to be Ωk-rigid if there is no other h satisfying . We prove that the Ωk-rigidity is equivalent to the density of the range of some bilinear form on the space of exact harmonic fields.     

Existence of natural and projectively equivariant quantizations

We study the existence of natural and projectively equivariant quantizations for differential operators acting between order 1 vector bundles over a smooth manifold M. To that aim, we make use of the Thomas-Whitehead approach of projective structures and construct a Casimir operator depending on a projective Cartan connection. We attach a scalar parameter to every space of differential operators, and prove the existence of a quantization except when this parameter belongs to a discrete set of resonant values.     

The differential form spectrum of quaternionic hyperbolic spaces

By using harmonic analysis and representation theory, we determine explicitly the L² spectrum of the Hodge-de Rham Laplacian acting on quaternionic hyperbolic spaces and we show that the unique possible discrete eigenvalue and the lowest continuous eigenvalue can both be realized by some subspace of hypereffective differential forms. Similar results are obtained also for the Bochner Laplacian.     

A new expression for the density of totally geodesic submanifolds in space forms, with stereological applications

Integral section formulae for totally geodesic submanifolds (planes) intersecting a compact submanifold in a space form are available from appropriate representations of the motion invariant density (measure) of these planes. Here we present a new decomposition of the invariant density of planes in space forms. We apply the new decomposition to rewrite Santaló's sectioning formula and thereby to obtain new mean values for lines meeting a convex body. In particular we extend to space forms a recently published stereological formula valid for isotropic plane sections through a fixed point of a convex body in R³.     

A geometric approach to error estimates for conservation laws posed on a spacetime

We consider a hyperbolic conservation law posed on an (N+1)-dimensional spacetime, whose flux is a field of differential forms of degree N. Generalizing the classical Kuznetsov’s method, we derive an L¹ error estimate which applies to a large class of approximate solutions. In particular, we apply our main theorem and deal with two entropy solutions associated with distinct flux fields, as well as with an entropy solution and an approximate solution. Our framework encompasses, for instance, equations posed on a globally hyperbolic Lorentzian manifold.     

Covariance and the hierarchy of frame bundles

This is an essay on the general concept of covariance, and its connection with the structure of the nested set of higher frame bundles over a differentiable manifold. Examples of covariant geometric objects include not only linear tensor fields, densities and forms, but affinity fields, sectors and sector forms, higher order frame fields, etc., often having nonlinear transformation rules and Lie derivatives. The intrinsic, or invariant, sets of forms that arise on frame bundles satisfy the graded Cartan-Maurer structure equations of an infinite lie algebra. Reduction of these gives invariant structure equations for Lie pseudogroups, and forG-structures of various orders. Some new results are introduced for prolongation of structure equations, and for treatment of Riemannian geometry with higher-order moving frames. The use of invariant form equations for nonlinear field physics is implicitly advocated.Research sponsored by the U.S. Army Research Office through an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.     

Second-order type-changing evolution equations with first-order intermediate equations

This paper presents a partial classification for C^∞ type-changing symplectic Monge-Ampère partial differential equations (PDEs) that possess an infinite set of first-order intermediate PDEs. The normal forms will be quasi-linear evolution equations whose types change from hyperbolic to either parabolic or to zero. The zero points can be viewed as analogous to singular points in ordinary differential equations. In some cases, intermediate PDEs can be used to establish existence of solutions for ill-posed initial value problems.     

Sharp Nash inequalities on the unit sphere: The influence of symmetries

In this paper both we establish the best constants for the Nash inequalities on the standard unit sphere Sⁿ of Rⁿ⁺¹, n≥3 and we give answers on the existence of extremal functions on the corresponding problems. Also we study the problem of the best constants in the case where the data are invariant under the action of the group G=O(k)×O(m), k+m=n+1 and we find the best constants.     

Variational sequences in mechanics

Let be a fibered manifold over a base manifold . A differential 1-form , defined on the -jet prolongation of , is said to be contact, if it vanishes along the -jet prolongation of every section of . The notion of contactness is naturally extended to -forms with . The contact forms define a subsequence of the De Rham sequence on . The corresponding quotient sequence is known as the rth order variational sequence. In this paper, the case of 1-dimensional base is considered. A simple proof is given of the fact that the rth order variational sequence is an acyclic resolution of the constant sheaf. Then the 1st order variational sequence is studied in detail. The quotient sheaves, as well as the quotient mappings, are determined explicitly, and their relationship to the standard concepts of the 1st order calculus of variations is discussed. The following is shown: a) the lagrangians in the 1st order variational sequence (classes of 1-forms) coincide with 2nd order lagrangians, affine in the second derivative variables, b) the concept of the Euler-Lagrange form is extended to 2-forms which are not necessarily variational, c) the concept of the Helmholtz-Sonin form is introduced as the class of an arbitrary 3-form, d) the well-known fundamental notions such as the Euler-Lagrange, and Helmholtz-Sonin mappings are represented by two arrows at the beginning of the variational sequence; this relates the global structure of the Euler-Lagrange mapping to the cohomology of , e) all the remaining classes of -forms with , as well as the quotient mappings, are determined explicitly, f) a locally variational form is defined as a generalization of a symplectic form; locally variational forms, associated to a fixed Euler-Lagrange form, are characterized, and g) distributions associated with a locally variational form are described, and their relation to the Euler-Lagrange equations is studied. These results illustrate differences between finite order variational sequences and variational bicomplexes, based on infinite jet constructions. Received February 18, 1996 / In revised form December 1996 / Accepted December 2, 1996