The Björling problem for timelike surfaces in \(\mathbb R_2^4\) (Q390966)

In this article, the Björling problem is solved for time-like (and, when possible, for space-like) surfaces in \(\mathbb R^4_2\) by construction of a special normal frame and a split-complex representation formula. The work has four sections. The introductory section presents a review of previous work done on this problem from the time it was raised in 1844, and justifies the selected method of solution. An attempt is made to find out how far one can go with the use of a split-complex number analogy in the study of minimal surfaces, compared with complex analysis. This is followed by the introduction of necessary concepts and notations, and a suitable normal frame is constructed for subsequent work. It is shown that, in the space \(\mathbb{R}^4_2\), the minimal immersions are connected with so-called split-holomorphic functions, and for the solution of the Björling problem the relevant split-complex representation formulas are presented as well as ways to extend a surface past its boundary by means of the Schwarz reflection. The last section deals with construction of \(k\)-planes of symmetry for minimal time-like surfaces. The results are proved in detail, and many illustrative examples are given.