On the space of oriented affine lines in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) (Q1880191)

Let \(\mathcal L\) be the set of oriented lines of the real Euclidean \(3\)-space \(E^3\) and \(TS^2\) the tangent bundle of the unit sphere \(S^2\). Given an origin in \(E^3\), each \(\ell\in\mathcal L\) is uniquely described by a unit vector \(\vec W\) in the oriented direction of \(\ell\) and the perpendicular displacement \(\vec U\) of \(\ell\) from the origin. The mapping \(\Lambda:{\mathcal L}\rightarrow\,TS^2, \ell\mapsto(\vec U,\vec W)\) is bijective; \(\Lambda^{-1}=:\Phi\) (``twistor correspondence''). Using holomorphic coordinates on \(TS^2\) the authors provide a local representation of \(\Phi\) which is applicable in the study of normal line congruences [cf. \textit{B.~Guilfoyle} and \textit{W.~Klingenberg}, Generalised surfaces in \({\mathbb R}^3\), Math. Proc. R.I.A. 104A(2), (2004)[math.DG/0406185]] and reflection geometry [cf. \textit{B.~Guilfoyle} and \textit{W.~Klingenberg}, SIAM J. Appl. Math. (2003)[math.DG/0406212]].