Bäcklund transformations for hyperbolic surfaces in \(E^3\) via Weingarten congruences (Q1586689)

The classical Bäcklund transformation for the sine-Gordon equation and its familiar geometrical interpretation by means of surfaces of constant negative Gaussian curvature is generalized as follows. Let \(I= r^2(s^2 du^2+ 2st\cos\psi du dv+ t^2 dv^2)\) and \(II= 2rst\sin\psi du dv\) be the fundamental forms of a hyperbolic surface \(F\) in asymptotic coordinates. Then the relevant Gauss-Mainardi-Codazzi (GMC) system \[ \psi_{uv}+ \Biggl({r_vs \sin\psi\over 2rt}\Biggr)_v+ \Biggl({r_u t\sin\psi\over 2rs}\Biggr)_u= ts\sin\psi, \] \[ s_v= {1\over 2r} (t\cos\psi r_u- sr_v),\quad t_u={1\over 2r} (s\cos \psi r_v- r_u) \] stands for the sine-Gordon equation. On the other hand, recall the \(W\)-congruences of lines in \(E^3\). They are distinguished by the property that both their focal surfaces \(F\), \(\widetilde F\) are hyperbolic and the focal map \(\beta: F\to\widetilde F\) transforms the asymptotic lines on \(F\) into the asymptotic lines on \(\widetilde F\). The authors identify the focal map \(\beta\) with a certain Bäcklund transformation between GMC systems of the focal surfaces. In particular, the Bianchi congruences (with equal Gauss curvature at the corresponding points) lead to a reasonable soliton theory (the existence of a spectral parameter).