Conformal structures with $G_2$-symmetric twistor distribution

Pawel Nurowski; Katja Sagerschnig; Dennis The

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arXiv · 2411.01936

Conformal structures with $G_2$-symmetric twistor distribution

Pawel Nurowski·Katja Sagerschnig·Dennis The

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Abstract

For any 4D split-signature conformal structure, there is an induced twistor distribution on the 5D space of all self-dual totally null 2-planes, which is $(2,3,5)$ when the conformal structure is not anti-self-dual. Several examples where the twistor distribution achieves maximal symmetry (the split-real form of the exceptional simple Lie algebra of type $\mathrm{G}_2$) were previously known, and these include fascinating examples arising from the rolling of surfaces without twisting or slipping. Relaxing the rolling assumption, we establish a complete local classification result among those homogeneous 4D split-conformal structures for which the symmetry algebra induces a multiply-transitive action on the 5D space. Furthermore, we discuss geometric properties of these conformal structures such as their curvature, holonomy, and existence of Einstein representatives.

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Pawel Nurowski, Katja Sagerschnig, Dennis The. 2024-11-04. Conformal structures with $G_2$-symmetric twistor distribution. https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.01936

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