Variational problems for Fefferman hypersurface measure and volume-preserving CR invariants (Q535602)

\textit{C. Fefferman} introduced his measure \(\sigma_Z\) on strongly pseudoconvex hypersurfaces \(Z\), related to the complex Monge-Ampère operator in [Adv. Math. 31, 131--262 (1979; Zbl 0444.32013)]. The author restricts his scope to closed real hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{C}^2\) and considers the two functionals \(\sigma\) and \(\mathcal I\) (\(\mathcal{I}\) was introduced by \textit{D. E. Barrett} [Math. Scand. 98, No.~1, 69--80 (2006; Zbl 1145.32015)]): \[ \sigma:Z @>>> \int_Z\sigma_Z\quad\text{and}\quad \mathcal{I}(Z)=\left.\left(\int_Z \sigma_Z\right)^{\frac{3}{2}}\right/\int_{\Omega}\omega_{\mathbb{C}^2}, \quad\text{with \(Z=\partial\Omega^{\text{open}}\)}. \] Both functionals are invariant under volume-preserving CR maps. Hence, the author derives a normal form for hypersurfaces of \(\mathbb{C}^2\), with respect to this group action, having definining function \[ \rho(z,w)=-v+|z|^2+\kappa |z|^4+\gamma z^3\bar{z}+\gamma z\bar{z}^3+ \cdots=0, \] with real invariants \(\kappa,\gamma\). These are shown to be related to CR-invariants found by \textit{S. M. Webster} [J. Differ. Geom. 13, 25--41 (1978; Zbl 0379.53016)]. The Euler equations are found for the functionals \(\sigma\) and \(\mathcal{I}\), and the solutions are characterized in terms of \(\kappa\). In particular, it is shown that the only torsion-free solutions to Euler's equations for \(\mathcal{I}\) are the volume-preserving images of spheres.