The spinorial energy functional on surfaces (Q907924)

Let \(M_\gamma\) be a connected, closed surface of genus \(\gamma\). The choice of a spin structure determines a Riemannian metric \(g\) and a unit spinor \(\phi\), and one can consider the energy functional \[ E(g, \phi)=\dfrac 12 \int_M |\nabla^g\phi|^2_g dv_g. \] The paper discusses the features of \(E\), in particular its critical points. Along the same line of thought is the authors' study [Math. Ann. 365, No. 3--4, 1559--1602 (2016; Zbl 1358.53052)] of spin \(n\)-manifolds, \(n\geq 3\). In two dimensions \(E\) is invariant under rescalings of \(g\), typically an indication of a wealth of critical points (as opposed to higher dimensions, where critical points are, in practice, given by \(g\)-parallel spinors \(\phi\)). For example, the authors describe 2-tori having non-minimising, saddle critical points for \(E\) and no harmonic spinors. They prove that \(E\) is bounded below by the topological term \(\pi|\gamma-1|\), and this value is attained exactly when \(\phi\) is a twistor spinor (for \(\gamma = 0\)), parallel (\(\gamma = 1\)), or harmonic (\(\gamma \geq 2\)). Moreover, via the spin Weierstrass representation, the authors are able to relate \(E\) to the Willmore energy of periodic immersions of surfaces in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). They prove that for any genus \(\neq 2\) there exist critical points that are absolute minimisers. Finally, they classify critical points on the sphere and on flat tori.