A Godbillon-Vey type invariant for a 3-dimensional manifold with a plane field

Publication date 19 September 2019

Abstract: We consider a 3-dimensional smooth manifold

M

equipped with an arbitrary, extit{a priori} non-integrable, distribution (plane field)

c a l D

and a vector field

T

transverse to

c a l D

. Using a 1-form

o m e g a

such that

c a l D = k e r, o m e g a

and

o m e g a (T) = 1

we construct a 3-form analogous to that defining the Godbillon-Vey class of a foliation, and show how does this form depend on

o m e g a

and~

T

. For a compatible Riemannian metric on

M

, we express this 3-form in terms of the curvature and torsion of normal curves and the non-symmetric second fundamental form of

c a l D

. We deduce Euler-Lagrange equations of associated functionals: for variable

(c a l D, T)

on

M

, and for variable Riemannian or Randers metric on

(M, c a l D)

. We show that for a geodesic field

T

(e.g., for a contact structure) such

(c a l D, T)

is critical, characterize critical pairs when

c a l D

is integrable, and prove that these critical pairs are not extrema.

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