Exotic Engel structures on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) (Q1264939)

An Engel Lie algebra is a 4-dimensional 3-step nilpotent Lie algebra \({\mathcal A}\). It is unique up to isomorphism and is generated by a 2-dimensional linear subspace \(V\) which is complementary to \([{\mathcal A}, {\mathcal A}]\). An Engel structure on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) is a smooth 2-dimensional distribution on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) which is locally isomorphic to the standard Engel structure obtained from the vector space \(V\) via an identification of \(\mathbb{R}^4\) with the Engel Lie group. An Engel structure on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) defines naturally a one-dimensional foliation on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) which is tangent to the distribution and consists of so-called rigid curves. It also induces a contact structure on any hyperplane transversal to the foliation. On the other hand, from any contact structure on \(\mathbb{R}^3\) one can naturally construct an Engel structure on \(\mathbb{R}^4\). This implies that there are many Engel structures on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) which are (globally) not isomorphic to the standard one. The paper also contains a discussion of further global invariants of Engel structures on \(\mathbb{R}^4\) as well as an excellent introduction to the (local) geometry of Engel structures.