Superconformal harmonic surfaces in de Sitter space-times (Q2567115)

Let \(f : M \to S\) be a harmonic map of a Riemann surface into a Lorentz \(n\)-dimensional manifold. The isotropic dimension of \(f\) is defined as non negative integer \(r\) such that \[ \langle\partial^af, \partial^bf \rangle =0,\quad 1\leq a+b \leq 2r +1,\;\langle\partial^{r+1}f, \partial^{r+1}f\rangle \neq 0, \] where \(\partial = \partial/\partial z\) is the derivative with respect to a holomorphic coordinate \(z\) on \(M\). The harmonic map \(f\) is called to be superconformal if it has the maximal possible isotropic dimension \(r = [1/2](n+1)-1\). The author studies superconformal harmonic maps \(f\) of a Riemann surface \(M\) into the de Sitter space \(S^n_1\). He gives an interpretation of the normal curvatures of the surface \(f(M)\) as curvatures of some line bundles associated with \(f\) and describes when \(f(M)\) belongs to a non-degenerate hyperplane of \(S^n_1\). Sufficient conditions that two superconformal maps are related by an isometry are given. A characterization of superconformal minimal immersions of tori is obtained.