Holomorphic Engel structures (Q395155)

Let \(X\) be a smooth complex variety of dimension \(4\). An \textit{Engel structure} on \(X\) is a rank-\(2\) subbundle \(D\) of the tangent bundle \(T_X\) such that \(E=[D,D]\) is a rank-\(3\) subbundle and \([E,E]=T_X\). This structure induces a line subbundle \(L\subset D\) such that \([L,E]\subset E\). This definition introduced by the authors is analogous to that used in the real orientable case, where Engel's structures play an important role. For example, existence of Engel's structure in the real orientable case is equivalent to parallelizability of the tangent bundle (see \textit{T. Vogel}'s paper in [Ann. Math. (2) 169, No. 1, 79--137 (2009; Zbl 1195.58005)]). The authors' aim is to classify Engel structures on complex projective \(4\)-folds. They prove a partial result by relating Engel structures to contact \(3\)-folds and they pose the following conjecture that would allow to complete the classification. If \(X\) is a smooth complex projective \(4\)-fold admitting an Engel structure then either the line bundle \((D/L)^{-1}\) is pseudoeffective (i.e., it is a limit of effective divisors), or \(L\) is a direct summand of \(D\).