On the connection between harmonic maps and the self-dual Yang-Mills and the sine-Gordon equations (Q1184390)

This paper develops previous work by the same author [J. Differ. Geom. 30, No. 1, 1-50 (1989; Zbl 0677.58020)]. Its aim is to demonstrate some algebraic connections between the Yang-Mills equations, the sine-Gordon equation and harmonic maps from \(E^ 2\) (or \(S^ 2\)) and \(E^{1,1}\) into a Lie group \(G\). More precisely, the harmonic map equations are shown to be equivalent to the reduced self-dual Yang-Mills equations on \(E^{2,2}\) with structure group \(G\). For such a reduction to be possible, the unusual signature \(++--\) is required in 4-dimensional space (the standard \(+---\) or \(-+++\) not being compatible with the reality conditions required by a compact gauge group).