Timelike surfaces in the de Sitter space \(\mathbb{S}_1^3(1)\subset \mathbb{R}_1^4\) (Q2140592)

Let \(\mathbb{R}^{4}_{1}\) denote the Minkowski vector space equipped with the standard Minkowski metric: \[ \langle\ ,\ \rangle=-(dx^{1})^{2}+(dx^{2})^{2}+(dx^{3})^{2}+(dx^{4})^{2}. \] The 3-dimensional de Sitter space from \(\mathbb{S}^{3}_{1}(1)\) is the set of unit vectors under this semi-Riemannian metric. The authors construct isotropic minimal surfaces in \(\mathbb{S}^{3}_{1}(1)\). Using geometry of \(\mathbb{R}^{4}_{1}\) and \(\mathbb{S}^{3}_{1}(1)\) including stereographic projection of light-like vectors, etc., the authors find a non-linear PDE system for two complex-valued functions in one complex variable (Equation (22)), such that a solution yields an isotropic minimal surface. They find particular local solutions to the PDE system in Examples 6.2 and 6.3, and interpret them as quasi-holomorphic functions which is a concept that generalizes holomorphic and anti-holomorphic functions. They establish a correspondence between a time-like minimal surface in de Sitter space form and a pair of quasi-holomorphic functions. Earlier studies on time-like minimal surfaces includes work of \textit{B. L. McNertney} [One parameter families of surfaces with constant curvature in Lorentz 3-space. Brown University (PhD Thesis) (1980)] and \textit{I. Van de Woestyne} [``Minimal surfaces of the 3-dimensional Minkowski space'', in: Geometry and topology of submanifolds II. New Jersey: World Scientific Publishing. 344--369 (1990)]. To write down the PDE system, the authors employ the idea of split-complex numbers introduced by \textit{J. J. Konderak} [Complex Variables, Theory Appl. 50, No. 5, 319--332 (2005; Zbl 1077.53015)].