Existence \(h\)-principle for Engel structures (Q1677223)

An Engel structure \(\mathcal D\) is a maximally non-integrable 2-distribution on a smooth 4-manifold \(M\) such that \([\mathcal D,\mathcal D]=\mathcal E\) is a 3-distribution, and \([\mathcal E,\mathcal E]=TM\). As explained in the introduction of the paper under review, Cartan proved that line fields, contact structures, even-contact structures and Engel structures are the only classes of topologically stable distributions [\textit{E. Cartan}, Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 29, 118--130 (1901; JFM 32.0354.01)]. Engel structures are more mysterious than the others. Existence of Engel structures was settled recently by \textit{T. Vogel} [Ann. Math. (2) 169, No. 1, 79--137 (2009; Zbl 1195.58005)]. An interesting question would be whether there is an \(h\)-principle for Engel structures underlying Vogel's proof of existence. This question is beautifully resolved by the paper under review. The authors define a formal Engel structure to be a full flag \(\mathcal W^1 \subset \mathcal D^2 \subset \mathcal E^3 \subset TM\) such that \(\mathrm{det}(\mathcal D)=\mathcal E/\mathcal D\) and \(\mathrm{det}(\mathcal E/\mathcal W)=TM/\mathcal E\). An Engel structure has its associated full flag and there is a forgetful inclusion \(i\) from the space of Engel structure to the space of formal Engel structures. The main result of the paper is that the induced maps on homotopy groups by \(i\) are all surjective. The proof of the main result is divided into two main steps. The first step is to homotope a formal Engel structure to a genuine Engel structure in the complement of some disjoint union of 4-balls such that the formal Engel structure over the 4-balls satisfies certain conditions, called \(K\)-radial shells (Theorem 28 in the paper). The two main ingredients of this step are a construction of an adequate triangulation of \(M\) adapted to the formal Engel structure, and the \(h\)-principle for even-contact structures proved by \textit{D. McDuff} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 37, No. 1, 107--133 (1987; Zbl 0572.58010)]. The second step consists in extending the genuine Engel structure from the boundary of 4-balls to their interior (Theorem 18 in the paper), which is the main technical part of the paper.