Lagrangian-type submanifolds of \(G_2\) and \(\operatorname{Spin}(7)\) manifolds and their deformations (Q2423739): Difference between revisions

Given a smooth symplectic manifold \(N^{2n}\) equipped with a closed, nondegenerate differential 2-form \(\omega\), an \(n\)-dimensional submanifold \(L^n\) of \(N^{2n}\) is called Lagrangian if the restriction of \(\omega\) to \(L^n\) is zero. The authors study the existence of similar submanifolds in other similar geometric settings, in particular the exceptional geometries, \(G_2\) and \(\mathrm{Spin}(7)\). A first case: for \((M,\varphi)\) a \(G_2\) manifold with the calibration 3-form \(\varphi\) and with its Hodge dual \(\star\varphi\), they obtain a natural setting in which one can search for Lagrangian-type submanifolds corresponding to \(\varphi\) and \(\star\varphi\). More precisely, the authors define a 3-manifold \(HL\) on which the restriction of \(\varphi\) to \(HL\) is zero and a 4-manifold \(RS\) such that the restriction of \(\star\varphi\) to \(RS\) is zero. These submanifolds are called \textsl{Harvey-Lawson} \((HL)\) and respectively \textsl{Harvey-Lawson} \((RS)\) \textsl{manifolds}. In this paper the authors study these submanifolds and their deformation spaces. As a result of this study, the authors prove the following theorems. Theorem 1.1. The space of infinitesimal deformations of a smooth, compact, orientable 3-dimensional Harvey-Lawson submanifold \(HL\) in a \(G_2\) manifold \(M\) within the class of \(HL\)-submanifolds is infinite-dimensional. This space can be identified with the direct sum of the spaces of smooth functions and closed 2-forms on \(HL\). Theorem 1.2. The space of all infinitesimal deformations of a smooth, compact, orientable 4-dimensional \(RS\)-submanifold in a \(G_2\) manifold \(M\) within the class of \(RS\)-submanifolds in infinite-dimensional and can be identified with closed differential 3-forms on \(RS\). Another case in which Lagrangian-type submanifolds can be defined is that of \(\mathrm{Spin}(7)\) geometry. If \((N,\Psi)\) is a \(\mathrm{Spin}(7)\) manifold with the self-dual calibration 4-form \(\Psi\) then an \(L\)-\textsl{submanifold} of \(N\) is a 4-manifold \(L\) such that the restriction of \(\Psi\) to \(L\) is zero. Regarding these submanifolds the authors prove the following theorem: Theorem 1.3. Suppose \(N\) is a \(\mathrm{Spin}(7)\) manifold such that \(T(N)\) admits a non-vanishing 3-frame field. The space of infinitesimal deformations of a smooth, compact, orientable 4-dimensional \(L\)-submanifold of \(N\) within the class of \(L\)-submanifolds is infinite-dimensional. Further, this space can be identified with closed differential 3-forms on \(L\). In connection with these theorems the authors make also the following remark. Remark 1.4. Note that \(M\) does not have to be a manifold with \(G_2\) holonomy for Theorems 1.1 and 1.2. Theorem 1.1 also holds when \(M\) is a manifold with a closed \(G_2\) structure \(\phi\) and Theorem 1.2 can be extended to the case when \(M\) is a manifold with a co-closed \(G_2\) structure \(\phi\). However, since the calibration form for a \(\mathrm{Spin}(7)\) manifold is self-dual, an analogous situation for Theorem 1.3 does not hold if the \(\mathrm{Spin}(7)\) structure on \(N\) is not torsion-free.