Pseudospherical surfaces of low differentiability (Q907845)

Let \(D_{(x,y)}\) be a simply connected open set in \( \mathbb{R} ^2\) and \(\hat{f}:D_{(u,v)}\rightarrow \mathbb{R} ^3\) be an \(n\)-differentiable regular immersion with parameters \(u\), \(v\) (i.e., \(\operatorname{rank}_{\hat{f}}(p) =2\) for all \(p\in D\)), and negative Gaussian curvature \(K\). Let \(f=\hat{f}\circ T\) be a reparametrization of \(\hat{f}\) by asymptotic coordinates (all parameter curves are asymptotic) with \(T:D_{(x,y)}\rightarrow D_{(u,v)}\). It is known for \(n=4\) that: (A) one can have a reparametrization \(T\) which is a \(C^3\)-diffeomorphism and \(f\) is an asymptotic Chebyshev immersion (i.e., \(\langle f_x,f_x\rangle =\langle f_y,f_y\rangle= 1\) ) with \(K=-1\) (B) all 3-differentiable asymptotic Chebyshev immersions with \(K=-1\) arise by Toda's loop group algorithm from \(C^2\) potentials \(\eta\). Conversely, given a \(C^2\) potential \(\eta\), Toda's loop group algorithm produces a (possibly weakly-regular, i.e., \(\langle f_x,f_x\rangle\neq 0\) and \(\langle f_y, f_y\rangle\neq 0\)) \(C^4\) asymptotic Chebyshev immersion \(f:D_{(x,y)}\rightarrow \mathbb{R} ^3\), with \(K=-1\). The same authors already proved in [Result. Math. 56, No. 1--4, 3--21 (2009; Zbl 1187.53007)], that the statement (A) is true for all \(n\geq 3\). This paper is a follow up and the authors study statement (A) for \(n=1\) and \(n=2\). (Sections 2 and 3) It was proved by \textit{P. Hartman} and \textit{A. Wintner} [Am. J. Math. 73, 149--172 (1951; Zbl 0042.15701)], that \(\hat{f}\) can be \(C^{1M}\)-reparametrized by asymptotic Chebyshev coordinates. \(C^{1M}\) functions are \(C^1\) and their mixed partial derivatives exists, are equal and continuous. In Section 4, the authors prove that all such immersions arise by Toda's loop group algorithm from \(C^0\)- potentials and conversely given a \(C^0\)-potential \(\eta\), Toda's algorithm produces a (possibly weakly-regular) \(C^{1M}\) asymptotic Chebyshev immersion \(f\) with \(K=-1\). In Section 5, a \(C^{1M}\) version of Hilbert's theorem is proved and, in Section 6, the good behaviour of this frame is shown and fronts even along a singular cusp line. Remark: Since the whole paper applies Toda's loop algorithm it seams reasonable to include the short description given in the introduction by the authors. The algorithm is explained in detail in Section 2. Let \(\lambda \in \mathbb{R} ^+\) be a loop parameter. Input two loops \(\eta =(\eta_+(x),\eta_-(y))\). Solve the system of loop ODE's \[ \frac{\partial U_+}{\partial x}=U_+\eta_+\quad \frac{\partial U_-}{\partial y}=U_-\eta_- \] Apply Birkhoff's factorization to \(U_-^{-1}U_+\) : \(U_-^{-1}U_+= L_+L_-^{-1}\). Let \(\hat{U}:=U_-L_+=U_+L_-\). \(\hat{U}\) satisfy \(\frac{\partial \hat{U}}{\partial x}=\frac{i}{2}\hat{U} \begin{pmatrix} -\phi_x & \lambda \\ \lambda & \varphi _x\\ \end{pmatrix}\) and \(\frac{\partial \hat{U}}{\partial y}=-\frac{i}{2\lambda}\hat{U} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & e^{i\phi }\\ e^{-i\phi } & 0\\ \end{pmatrix}\) where \(\phi\) satisfies the sine-Gordon equation \(\phi_{xy}=\sin \phi\). Let \(f_n=\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\hat{U}\hat{U}^{-1}|_{t=0},\) where \(\lambda=e^t\). Then, \(f_n\) is a surface in \( \mathbb{R} ^3\), with \(\cos \phi=\langle f_{\eta_{x}},f_{\eta_{y}}\rangle\), and \(K=-1\)