Circles in self dual symmetric \(R\)-spaces (Q2234900)

Self-dual symmetric \(R\)-spaces contain special curves, called circles, that were introduced by \textit{F. E. Burstall} et al. [J. Reine Angew. Math. 660, 191--243 (2011; Zbl 1245.53049)]. In this paper, the author characterises elements of the big transformation group \(G\) of a self-dual symmetric \(R\)-space \(M\) as those diffeomorphisms of \(M\) that send circles to circles. The author also gives a geometric characterisation of circles; namely, given a circle \(c\) in \(M\), there is a maximal compact subgroup \(K\) in \(G\) such that \(c\), except for a projective reparametrization, is a diagonal geodesic in a maximal totally geodesic flat torus of \(M\), provided that \(M\) carries the canonical symmetric \(K\)-invariant metric. The paper concludes with some examples.