No label defined (Q4938340)

Using commuting Hamiltonian flows on certain finite dimensional subspaces of appropriate loop algebras, \textit{F. E. Burstall}, \textit{D. Ferus}, \textit{F. Pedit} and \textit{U. Pinkall} constructed in [Ann. Math. 138, No. 1, 173-212 (1993; Zbl 0796.53063)] harmonic maps from a Riemann surface into a compact Riemannian symmetric space. Such harmonic maps are said to be of finite type. Some of the ideas in this work originated from the work [Ann. Math. 130, No. 2, 407-451 (1989; Zbl 0683.53053)] of \textit{U. Pinkall} and \textit{I. Sterling} on the classification of constant mean curvature surfaces in space, whose Gauss maps are harmonic maps into the 2-sphere. In Ann. Global Anal. Geom. 11, 65-107 (1993; Zbl 0810.53003), \textit{M. Melko} and \textit{I. Sterling} have applied similar ideas to the study of constant negative Gaussian curvature surfaces in space, whose Gauss maps are harmonic with respect to the induced Lorentz metrics on the surfaces. The purpose of this article under review applies such ideas to the investigation of harmonic maps into noncompact target manifolds of dimension 2. More precisely, finite type harmonic maps from a Riemann or Lorentz surface into the hyperbolic 2-space are constructed. These harmonic maps can be regarded as the Gauss maps of constant mean or Gaussian curvature space-like surfaces in Minkowski 3-space. Thus, the construction also yields such surfaces. In particular, some surfaces that are not graphs are obtained. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0927.00036].