Local embeddability of pseudo-Hermitian manifolds into spheres (Q2491106)

In general, a real analytic strictly pseudoconvex CR hypersurface \(M\) cannot be locally CR embedded into a finite-dimensional sphere \(S^{2N-1}\subset\mathbb{C}^N\) (with \(N<+\infty\)). This was shown by \textit{F. Forstneric} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 295, 347--368 (1986; Zbl 0594.32024)] and \textit{J. Faran} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 103, No. 3, 902--904 (1988; Zbl 0656.32015)], while \textit{L. Lempert} [Proc. Int. Workshop Ded. H. Grauert, Aspects Math. E 17, 194--199 (1991; Zbl 0732.32010)] proved that an embedding is always possible into the infinite dimensional unit sphere of the separable complex Hilbert space \(\ell_2\). In this paper the authors discuss necessary and sufficient conditions for the embedding of \(M\) into a finite-dimensional sphere, in terms of differential geometric invariants of its Webster pseudo-Hermitian metric [see \textit{S. M. Webster}, J. Differ. Geom. 13, 25--41 (1978; Zbl 0379.53016)]).