Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces

We develop an approach to affine symplectic invariant geometry of Lagrangian surfaces by the method of moving frames. The fundamental invariants of elliptic Lagrangian immersions in affine symplectic four-space are derived together with their integrability equations. The invariant setup is applied t...

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Hauptverfasser: Musso, E., Nicolodi, L.
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spelling irk-123456789-1491082019-02-20T01:26:56Z Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces Musso, E. Nicolodi, L. We develop an approach to affine symplectic invariant geometry of Lagrangian surfaces by the method of moving frames. The fundamental invariants of elliptic Lagrangian immersions in affine symplectic four-space are derived together with their integrability equations. The invariant setup is applied to discuss the question of symplectic applicability for elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Explicit examples are considered. 2009 Article Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces / E. Musso, L. Nicolodi // Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications. — 2009. — Т. 5. — Бібліогр.: 24 назв. — англ. 1815-0659 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 53A07; 53B99; 53D12; 53A15 http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/149108 en Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications Інститут математики НАН України
institution Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
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description We develop an approach to affine symplectic invariant geometry of Lagrangian surfaces by the method of moving frames. The fundamental invariants of elliptic Lagrangian immersions in affine symplectic four-space are derived together with their integrability equations. The invariant setup is applied to discuss the question of symplectic applicability for elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Explicit examples are considered.
format Article
author Musso, E.
Nicolodi, L.
spellingShingle Musso, E.
Nicolodi, L.
Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces
Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications
author_facet Musso, E.
Nicolodi, L.
author_sort Musso, E.
title Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces
title_short Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces
title_full Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces
title_fullStr Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces
title_sort symplectic applicability of lagrangian surfaces
publisher Інститут математики НАН України
publishDate 2009
url http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/149108
citation_txt Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces / E. Musso, L. Nicolodi // Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications. — 2009. — Т. 5. — Бібліогр.: 24 назв. — англ.
series Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications
work_keys_str_mv AT mussoe symplecticapplicabilityoflagrangiansurfaces
AT nicolodil symplecticapplicabilityoflagrangiansurfaces
first_indexed 2025-07-12T21:21:55Z
last_indexed 2025-07-12T21:21:55Z
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fulltext Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications SIGMA 5 (2009), 067, 18 pages Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces? Emilio MUSSO † and Lorenzo NICOLODI ‡ † Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, I-10129 Torino, Italy E-mail: emilio.musso@polito.it ‡ Dipartimento di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale G.P. Usberti 53/A, I-43100 Parma, Italy E-mail: lorenzo.nicolodi@unipr.it Received February 25, 2009, in final form June 15, 2009; Published online June 30, 2009 doi:10.3842/SIGMA.2009.067 Abstract. We develop an approach to affine symplectic invariant geometry of Lagrangian surfaces by the method of moving frames. The fundamental invariants of elliptic Lagrangian immersions in affine symplectic four-space are derived together with their integrability equa- tions. The invariant setup is applied to discuss the question of symplectic applicability for elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Explicit examples are considered. Key words: Lagrangian surfaces; affine symplectic geometry; moving frames; differential invariants; applicability 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 53A07; 53B99; 53D12; 53A15 1 Introduction While the subject of metric invariants of Lagrangian submanifolds has received much attention in the literature, the subject of affine symplectic invariants of Lagrangian submanifolds has been less studied (cf. [21] for recent work in this direction). Early contributions to symplectic invariant geometry of submanifolds go back to Chern and Wang [10], who studied submanifolds in projective (2n + 1)-space under the linear symplectic group. Some recent works related to the study of affine symplectic invariants, mainly for the case of curves and hypersurfaces in Euclidean space, include [11, 19, 1]. The aim of this paper is to develop an approach to affine symplectic invariant geometry of Lagrangian surfaces in standard affine symplectic four-space, using the method of moving frames. The invariant setup is then applied to discuss the problem of symplectic applicability for Lagrangian immersions. Let M be a 2-dimensional manifold and let f : M → R4 be a Lagrangian immersion into standard affine symplectic four-space (R4,Ω). The basic observation is that the natural Gauss map of f , whose value at a point is determined by the 1-jet of f at that point, takes values in the oriented Lagrangian Grassmannian of (R4,Ω), the manifold Λ+ 2 of oriented Lagrangian 2-subspaces in R4. The oriented Lagrangian Grassmannian admits an alternative description as the conformal compactification of Minkowski 3-space R2,1, the projectivization of the positive nullcone of R3,2. The local isomorphisms between the group Sp(4, R) of linear symplectomor- phisms and the conformal Lorentz group O(3, 2) establishes a close relationship between the symplectic geometry of a Lagrangian surface in R4 and the conformal Lorentzian geometry of its Gauss map. Accordingly, a Lagrangian immersion is of general type (resp., special type) if its Gauss map is an immersion (resp., has constant rank one). Moreover, a Lagrangian immersion ?This paper is a contribution to the Special Issue “Élie Cartan and Differential Geometry”. The full collection is available at http://www.emis.de/journals/SIGMA/Cartan.html mailto:emilio.musso@polito.it mailto:lorenzo.nicolodi@unipr.it http://dx.doi.org/10.3842/SIGMA.2009.067 http://www.emis.de/journals/SIGMA/Cartan.html 2 E Musso and L. Nicolodi of general type is elliptic (resp., hyperbolic, parabolic) if its Gauss map is a spacelike (resp., timelike, lightlike) immersion into Λ+ 2 . In this work we study elliptic Lagrangian immersions in (R4,Ω) under the group R4oSp(4, R) of affine symplectic transformations. In Section 2, we collect the background material on affine symplectic frames and their structure equations, and briefly describe the conformal geometry of the Lagrangian Grassmannian Λ+ 2 . In Section 3, we develop the moving frame method for elliptic Lagrangian immersions in affine symplectic geometry. If f : M → R4 is an elliptic Lagrangian immersion, we consider on M the complex structure defined by the conformal structure induced by the Gauss map of f and a choice of orientation on M . After the third frame reduction, we make a succes- sive reduction with respect to a fixed local complex coordinate in the Riemann surface M , which yields a unique adapted frame field along f . From this we derive the three local affine symplectic invariants for f , namely the complex-valued smooth functions t, h, p : M → C, and establish their integrability equations, which give the existence and uniqueness theorem for elliptic Lagrangian immersion in affine symplectic geometry. At this stage, a natural question to ask is to what extent the invariants are actually needed to determine the ellip- tic Lagrangian surface up to symmetry (cf. Bonnet’s problem in Euclidean geometry). We will look at this problem from the classical point of view of applicable surfaces, a concept generalized by É. Cartan to G-deformations of submanifolds of any homogeneous space G/G0 (cf. [12, 8, 9, 14, 17]). In Section 4, we apply the invariant setup to discuss rigidity and applicability of elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Already after the second reduction, we associate with any elliptic Lag- rangian immersion f a cubic differential form F , the Fubini cubic form. Proposition 2 shows that the position of a generic elliptic Lagrangian immersion is completely determined by F , up to affine symplectic transformation. The elliptic Lagrangian immersions which are not determined by the Fubini cubic form alone are called applicable. Theorem 2 relates applicability to the complex structure of M , using the normalized Hopf differential H, a quadratic differential form naturally associated to any elliptic Lagrangian immersion with respect to third order frames. More precisely, it proves that an elliptic Lagrangian immersion is applicable if and only if there exists on M a non-zero holomorphic quadratic differential Q such that H and Q are linearly dependent over the reals at each point of M . An interesting consequence of this result is that applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersions admit an associated family of noncongruent elliptic Lagrangian immersions parametrized by R, which in turn suggests their integrable character. This is not surprising when one considers that the Gauss map of an applicable elliptic La- grangian immersion is an isothermic spacelike immersion of Λ+ 2 . Indeed, it is well known that a spacelike isothermic immersion in 3-dimensional conformal space comes in an associated fa- mily of (second order) deformations which coincide with the classical T -transforms of Bianchi and Calapso (cf. [22, 16, 24]). The equations governing elliptic Lagrangian immersions are also derived. We then consider the class of elliptic Lagrangian surfaces with totally umbilic Gauss map. They are defined by the vanishing of the normalized Hopf differential H. Propo- sition 3 shows that, up to a biholomorphism of M , two noncongruent, totally umbilic, elliptic Lagrangian immersions are applicable. Finally, Proposition 4 proves that a complex curve in C2 without flex points is a totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersion and that, conversely, any totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersion is congruent to a complex curve in C2 without flex points. Section 5 is devoted to the analysis of explicit examples of applicable non-totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 3 2 Preliminaries 2.1 Affine symplectic frames and structure equations Let R4 Ω denote R4 with the standard symplectic form Ω(X, Y ) = tXJY, X, Y ∈ R4, where J = (Jij) = ( 0 I2 −I2 0 ) , I2 being the 2× 2 identity matrix. The linear symplectic group is Sp(4, R) = {X ∈ GL(4, R) : tXJX = J}. An element X ∈ Sp(4, R) is of the form X = ( A B C D ) , where A, B, C and D are 2× 2 matrices such that tAC − tCA = 0, tBD − tDB = 0, tAD − tCB = I2. The Lie algebra of Sp(4, R) is sp(4, R) = { x(a, b, c) = ( a b c −ta ) : a ∈ gl(2, R), c, b ∈ S(2, R) } , where S(2, R) is the vector space of 2 × 2 symmetric matrices endowed with the inner product of signature (2, 1) defined by (b, b) = −det b, b ∈ S(2, R). The affine symplectic group R4 o Sp(4, R) is represented in GL(5, R) by S(4, R) = { S(P,X) = ( 1 0 P X ) : P ∈ R4, X ∈ Sp(4, R) } . The Lie algebra of S(4, R) is given by s(4, R) = { S(p,x) = ( 0 0 p x ) : p ∈ R4,x ∈ s(4, R) } . If S(P,X) ∈ S(4, R), we let Xj , j = 1, . . . , 4, denote the column vectors of X. By an affine symplectic frame is meant a point P ∈ R4 and four vectors X1, . . . , X4 ∈ R4 such that X = (X1, X2, X3, X4) ∈ Sp(4, R). Upon choice of a reference frame, the manifold of all affine symplectic frames of R4 Ω may be identified with the group S(4, R). Consider the tautological projection maps P : S(4, R) 3 S(P,X) 7→ P ∈ R4, (1) Xj : S(4, R) 3 S(P,X) 7→ Xj ∈ R4, 4 E Musso and L. Nicolodi for j = 1, . . . , 4. Then dP = τ jXj , dXj = θi jXi, where the τ j , θi j are the left-invariant Maurer–Cartan forms of S(4, R). Exterior differentiation of Ω(Xi,Xj) = Jij yields that θ is sp(4, R)-valued. We then write θ = ( α β γ −tα ) , where α = ( α1 1 α1 2 α2 1 α2 2 ) , β = ( β1 1 β1 2 β1 2 β2 2 ) , γ = ( γ1 1 γ1 2 γ1 2 γ2 2 ) . Note that( τ1, τ2, τ3, τ4, α1 1, α 2 2, α 1 2, α 2 1, γ 1 1 , γ2 2 , γ1 2 , β1 1 , β2 2 , β1 2 ) is a basis for the vector space of the left-invariant 1-forms of S(4, R). Moreover, for each S(0,Y) ∈ S(4, R), we have R∗ S(0,Y)  τ1 τ2 τ3 τ4  = Y−1  τ1 τ2 τ3 τ4  , R∗ S(0,Y)(θ) = Y−1θY + Y−1dY. Exterior differentiation of dP = τ jXj , dXi = θj i Xj yields the structure equations of the affine symplectic group: dτ1 = −α1 1 ∧ τ1 − α1 2 ∧ τ2 − β1 1 ∧ τ3 − β1 2 ∧ τ4, dτ2 = −α2 1 ∧ τ1 − α2 2 ∧ τ2 − β1 2 ∧ τ3 − β2 2 ∧ τ4, dτ3 = −γ1 1 ∧ τ1 − γ1 2 ∧ τ2 + α1 1 ∧ τ3 + α2 1 ∧ τ4, dτ4 = −γ1 2 ∧ τ1 − γ2 2 ∧ τ2 + α1 2 ∧ τ3 + α2 2 ∧ τ4, dα1 1 = −α1 2 ∧ α2 1 − β1 1 ∧ γ1 1 − β1 2 ∧ γ1 2 , dα2 2 = −α2 1 ∧ α1 2 − β1 2 ∧ γ1 2 − β2 2 ∧ γ2 2 , dα2 1 = (α1 1 − α2 2) ∧ α2 1 − β1 2 ∧ γ1 1 − β2 2 ∧ γ1 2 , dα1 2 = (α2 2 − α1 1) ∧ α1 2 − β1 1 ∧ γ1 2 − β1 2 ∧ γ2 2 , (2)  dγ1 1 = 2α1 1 ∧ γ1 1 + 2α2 1 ∧ γ1 2 , dγ2 2 = 2α2 2 ∧ γ2 2 + 2α1 2 ∧ γ1 2 , dγ1 2 = (α1 1 + α2 2) ∧ γ1 2 + α2 1 ∧ γ2 2 + α1 2 ∧ γ1 1 , and  dβ1 1 = −2α1 1 ∧ β1 1 − 2α1 2 ∧ β1 2 , dβ2 2 = −2α2 2 ∧ β2 2 − 2α2 1 ∧ β1 2 , dβ1 2 = −(α1 1 + α2 2) ∧ β1 2 − α2 1 ∧ β1 1 − α1 2 ∧ β2 2 . (3) Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 5 2.2 Oriented Lagrangian planes Let Λ+ 2 denote the set of oriented Lagrangian subspaces of R4, i.e. the set of oriented 2- dimensional linear subspaces V ⊂ R4 such that Ω|V = 0. The space Λ+ 2 is a smooth manifold diffeomorphic to S2×S1. The standard action of Sp(4, R) on R4 induces an action on Λ+ 2 which is transitive. The projection map πΛ : X ∈ Sp(4, R) 7→ [X1 ∧X2] ∈ Λ+ 2 makes Sp(4, R) into a principal fiber bundle with structure group Sp(4, R)1 = { X(A, b) = ( A Ab 0 tA−1 ) : det A > 0, b ∈ S(2, R) } . From this, it follows that the forms (γ1 1 , γ2 2 , γ2 1) span the semibasic forms of the projection πΛ. Moreover, the symmetric quadratic form g = −γ1 1γ2 2 +(γ2 1)2 and the exterior 3-form γ1 1 ∧γ2 1 ∧γ2 2 are well defined on Λ+ 2 , up to a positive multiple. They determine a conformal structure of signature (2, 1) and an orientation, respectively. Remark 1. The group Sp(4, R) is a covering group of the identity component of the conformal Lorentz group O(3, 2). This fact implies that Λ+ 2 can be identified with the quotient of the nullcone of R3,2 by the action given by positive scalar multiplications. Therefore, Λ+ 2 can be seen as the conformal compactification of oriented, time-oriented affine Minkowski space R2,1 ∼= S(2, R) (cf. [2, 15]). Any element of Λ+ 2 can be represented by a 4× 2 matrix X = ( A1 A2 ) of rank 2 such that tA1A2 = tA2A1. Let U0 ⊂ Λ+ 2 be the set of all Lagrangian subspaces [X1∧X2] associated to ordered pairs of vectors X1 = t ( x1 1, . . . , x 4 1 ) , X2 = t ( x1 2, . . . , x 4 2 ) such that det ( x1 1 x1 2 x2 1 x2 2 ) > 0. The set U0 is a dense open subset of Λ+ 2 . The map S : U0 → S(2, R) ∼= R2,1 given by S([X1 ∧X2]) = ( x3 1 x3 2 x4 1 x4 2 ) ( x1 1 x1 2 x2 1 x2 2 )−1 is a conformal diffeomorphism, and (U0, S) is a local chart of Λ+ 2 . Note that U0 = { V ∈ Λ+ 2 : V ∩W0 = {0} } , the set of Lagrangian subspaces which are transversal to W0 = span {e3, e4}.1 Let U1 = { V ∈ Λ+ 2 : dim(V ∩W0) = 1 } . Then U1 ∪ {W0} is a closed subset of Λ+ 2 , which can be interpreted as the ideal boundary of R2,1 ∼= U0. Note that U0 and U1 are orbits of the closed subgroup of Sp(4, R) that preserves the subspace W0. 1Here e1, e2, e3, e4 denote the standard basis of R4. 6 E Musso and L. Nicolodi 2.3 Lagrangian immersions Let f : M → R4 be a smooth immersion of a connected 2-manifold, oriented by a volume element A. For any q ∈ M , let Tf (q) be the 2-plane df(TqM) translated to the origin and equipped with the orientation induced by −df(A|q).2 Definition 1. The immersion f : M → R4 is called Lagrangian if Tf (q) ∈ Λ+ 2 , for each q ∈ M . The resulting map Tf : q ∈ M 7→ Tf (q) ∈ Λ+ 2 is the (symplectic) Gauss map of the Lagrangian immersion f . Definition 2. A Lagrangian immersion is said of general type (respectively, special type) if its Gauss map is an immersion (respectively, has constant rank one). Moreover, a Lagrangian immersion of general type is said elliptic (respectively, hyperbolic, parabolic) if its Gauss map is a spacelike (respectively, timelike, lightlike) immersion into Λ+ 2 . 3 Moving frames on elliptic Lagrangian immersions 3.1 Frame reductions and differential invariants In this section, f : M → R4 will denote an elliptic Lagrangian immersion with Gauss map Tf . Since we are working with immersions which are not necessarily one-to-one, it is not restrictive to assume that M is simply connected. Definition 3. A symplectic frame field along f is a smooth map S = S(f,X) : U → S(4, R) from an open connected subset U ⊂ M such that the projection (1) composed with S is f , i.e. P ◦ S(f,X) = S(f,X) ·O = f . Following the usual practice in the method of moving frames we will write φ instead of S∗(φ) to denote forms on U which are pulled back from S(4, R) by the moving frame S. A symplectic frame field along f gives a local representation of the derivative map, df = 4∑ j=1 τ jXj . Let S : U → S(4, R) be a symplectic frame field along f . Any other symplectic frame field along f on U is given by S̃ = SY, where Y : U → Sp(4, R) is a smooth map3. If Θ and Θ̃ are the pull-backs of the Maurer–Cartan form of S(4, R) by S and S̃, respectively, then Θ̃ = Y−1ΘY + Y−1dY. (4) 2One reason for choosing the opposite orientation is that totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersions are then described in terms of holomorphic functions instead of anti-holomorphic ones (cf. Sections 4.4 and 4.5). 3Here we are identifying an element S(0,Y) ∈ S(4, R) with Y ∈ Sp(4, R), and hence an element S(0,x) ∈ s(4, R) with x ∈ sp(4, R). Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 7 3.1.1 First order frame fields A symplectic frame field S = S(f,X) : U → S(4, R) along f is of first order if Tf (q) = [X1|q ∧X2|q], for each q ∈ U. It is clear that first order frame fields exist locally. With respect to a first order frame, the 1-forms τ3 and τ4 vanish identically on U and df = τ1X1 + τ2X2, where τ1 ∧ τ2 < 0. If S is a first order frame field along f on U , then any other is given by S̃ = SY(A, b), where Y(A, b) : U → Sp(4, R)1 is a smooth map into the subgroup Sp(4, R)1 introduced in Section 2.2. Calculated with respect to a first order frame field, the quadratic form g = −γ1 1γ2 2 + (γ2 1)2 is positive definite. Under a change S̃ = SY(A, b) of first order frames, it transforms by −γ̃1 1 γ̃2 2 + (γ̃2 1)2 = det(A)2 ( − γ1 1γ2 2 + (γ2 1)2 ) , and hence defines a conformal structure on M . On M , we will consider the unique complex structure compatible with the given orientation and the conformal structure defined by g. The 1-forms ω1 := 1 2 ( γ1 1 − γ2 2 ) , ω2 := γ2 1 are everywhere linearly independent and ω = ω1 + iω2 is complex-valued of bidegree (1, 0). Moreover, there exist smooth functions `1, `2 : U → R such that 1 2 ( γ1 1 + γ2 2 ) = `1ω 1 + `2ω 2, `2 1 + `2 2 < 1. 3.1.2 Second order frame fields A first order frame field along f is of second order if it satisfies 1 2 ( γ1 1 + γ2 2 ) = 0. Lemma 1. About any point of M there exists a second order frame field along f . Proof. Let S : U → S(4, R) be any first order frame field along f . Let φ : U → (−π/2, π/2) be the smooth function defined by sin(φ) = − `2√ 1− `2 1 and let A : U → GL+(2, R) be given by A =  √ 1−`1 2 cos(φ) √ 1−`1 2 sin(φ) 0 √ 1+`1 2  . Then Y(A, 0) : U → Sp(4, R)1 is a smooth map. Let S̃ = SY(A, 0). The transformation rule (4) gives γ̃ = tAγA, from which we compute γ̃1 1 + γ̃2 2 = 0. This means that S̃ is a second order frame field along f . � 8 E Musso and L. Nicolodi If S and S̃ are second order frame fields on U , then S̃ = SY(A, b), where A is a 2× 2 matrix such that tAA = r2I2 and det(A) > 0. The group of all such A identifies with the multiplicative group C∗ of nonzero complex numbers by C∗ 3 reis 7→ r ( cos(s) − sin(s) sin(s) cos(s) ) . Let S be a second order frame field along f . We know that the complex-valued 1-form ω = ω1 + iω2 is of bidegree (1, 0) and never zero. Differentiating the equations τ3 = τ4 = 0 and using the structure equations, we find that{ τ1 ∧ ω1 + τ2 ∧ ω2 = 0, τ1 ∧ ω2 − τ2 ∧ ω1 = 0, which, by Cartan’s Lemma, implies that τ := τ1 − iτ2 = tω, for some smooth function t = t1 + it2 : U → C. The 1-form τ is of bidegree (1, 0) and never zero. Under a change of second order frame fields S̃ = SY(reis, b), the forms ω and τ transform by ω̃ = r2e−2isω, τ̃ = r−1eisτ. (5) This implies that τ̃2ω̃ = τ2ω. Thus τ2ω is independent of the choice of second order frame field and is never zero. Definition 4. The cubic differential form F := τ2ω, globally defined on M , is called the Fubini cubic form of the Lagrangian immersion f . Next, consider the complex-valued 1-form η := η1 − iη2 = 1 2 ( α1 1 − α2 2 ) − i 2 ( α2 1 + α1 2 ) . Differentiation of γ1 1 + γ2 2 = 0, combined with the structure equations, gives η1 ∧ ω1 + η2 ∧ ω2 = 0, which, by Cartan’s Lemma, implies that η = hω + `ω̄ for some smooth functions h = h1 + ih2 : U → C and ` : U → R. 3.1.3 Third order frame fields Under a change S̃ = SY(reis, b) of second order frame fields, the 1-form η transforms by η̃ = e2is ( η − r2 2 tr (b) ω̄ ) . This implies that locally there exist second order frame fields satisfying ` = 0. Such frame fields are said of third order. If S̃ and S are third order frame fields on U , then S̃ = SY(reis, b) where tr (b) = 0. With respect to a third order frame field, the 1-form η is of bidegree (1, 0) and transforms by η̃ = e2isη. (6) Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 9 Definition 5. According to (5) and (6), the differential forms B = η̄η, H = |t|2/3ηω, are globally defined on M , independent of the choice of third order frames. We call B the Thomsen quadratic form and H the normalized Hopf differential of f . Remark 2. The invariant form B amounts to the metric induced on M by the conformal Gauss map [5] (or central sphere congruence [4]) of the spacelike conformal immersion Tf : M → Λ+ 2 . The invariant form H is instead a normalization of the Hopf differential of Tf . 3.2 Adapted frame fields Being simply connected, M is either the Riemann sphere S2, the complex plane C, or the unit disk ∆. By a complex parameter on M is meant a complex coordinate chart (U, z) in M defined on a maximal contractible open subset U of M : if M = C, or ∆, then U = M ; if M = S2, then U = S2 \ {q}. Definition 6. Let (U, z) be a complex parameter on M . A third order frame field S : U → S(4, R) along f is adapted to (U, z) if ω = ω1 + iω2 = dz, α1 1 + α2 2 = α2 1 − α1 2 = 0. (7) Proposition 1. Let (U, z) be a complex parameter on M . There exist third order frame fields along f adapted to (U, z). If S and S′ are two such frame fields, then S′ = ±S. Proof. Let q0 ∈ U and let S′ : V → S(4, R) be any third order frame field defined on a simply connected open neighborhood V ⊂ U of q0. On V there exist real-valued functions r, ϑ : V → R such that ω′ = r2e−2iϑdz. Define S′′ = S′Y(r−2e2iϑ, 0). Then, S′′ is a third order frame field such that ω′′ = dz. Two such frame fields are related by S̃′′ = S′′Y(±I2, b), where b : V → S(2, R) is a smooth map such that tr (b) = 0. From the structure equations we find that{ ( α1 1 + α2 2 ) ∧ dx + ( α2 1 − α1 2 ) ∧ dy = 0,( α1 1 + α2 2 ) ∧ dy − ( α2 1 − α1 2 ) ∧ dx = 0, which implies (α1 1 + α2 2)− i(α2 1 − α1 2) = w dz, for some smooth function w : V → C. If S̃′′ = S′′Y(±I2, b) then( α̃1 1 + α̃2 2 ) − i ( α̃2 1 − α̃1 2 ) = ( α1 1 + α2 2 ) − i ( α2 1 − α1 2 ) + 2 ( b1 1 − ib2 1 ) dz. If we choose b such that 2(b1 1 − ib2 1) = −w, then S̃′′ satisfies ω′′ = dz, ( α̃1 1 + α̃2 2 ) − i ( α̃2 1 − α̃1 2 ) = 0. This shows that adapted frame fields do exist locally near any point of U . Moreover, two such frames S and S′ on V are related by S′ = ±S. The existence of an adapted frame on U follows from the fact that U is simply connected. � 10 E Musso and L. Nicolodi 3.2.1 Invariant functions and integrability equations Let S : U → S(4, R) be a frame field adapted to (U, z). Then τ = t dz, η = h dz, (8) for smooth functions t = t1 + it2 : U → C and h = h1 + ih2 : U → C. Define υ and ρ by υ := 1 2 ( β1 1 + β2 2 ) , ρ := 1 2 ( β1 1 − β2 2 ) − iβ2 1 . The structure equations (2) imply υ = hz̄dz + h̄zdz̄, (9) and ρ = pdz + ( h2 1 + h2 2 ) dz̄ = pdz + |h|2dz̄, (10) for some smooth function p = p1 + ip2 : U → C. Definition 7. The functions t, h and p defined by (8) and (10) are called the invariant functions of the frame field along f adapted to (U, z). These functions are subject to the equations tz̄ = t̄ h, pz̄ = 2hh̄z − i|h|2z, p̄h− ph̄ = hz̄z̄ − h̄zz. (11) Remark 3. From (11) it follows that ∂̄(F) = 2N , (12) where N := τ̄ τηω is an invariant form. The form B, H and N are completely determined by the Fubini cubic form. Theorem 1 (Existence). Let (U, z) be a complex parameter on M . Let t : U → C, h : U → C and p : U → C be smooth functions satisfying the equations (11). Then there exist an elliptic Lagrangian immersion f : U → R4, unique up to affine symplectic transformation, and a unique frame field S : U → S(4, R) along f adapted to (U, z) whose invariant functions are t, h and p, i.e. τ = tdz, η = hdz, ρ(1,0) = pdz. Proof. Let( τ1 τ2 ) = ( t1dx− t2dy −t2dx− t1dy ) , γ = ( dx dy dy −dx ) , α = ( h1dx− h2dy −h2dx− h1dy −h2dx− h1dy −h1dx + h2dy ) , β = ( β1 1 β2 1 β2 1 β2 2 ) , where 1 2 ( β1 1 + β2 2 ) = hz̄dz + h̄zdz̄ and 1 2 ( β1 1 − β2 2 ) − iβ2 1 = pdz + |h|2dz̄. Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 11 Then Θ =  0 0 0( τ1 τ2 ) α β 0 γ −tα  is a smooth 1-form on U with values in s(4, R). By (11), dΘ = −Θ ∧Θ. Therefore, by the Cartan–Darboux theorem, there exists a smooth map S : U → S(4, R) such that S−1dS = Θ, unique up to left multiplication by an element of S(4, R). The elliptic Lagran- gian immersion f : U → R4 defined by f = S ·O has the required properties. � Remark 4 (Uniqueness). If f , f̃ : U → R4 are two elliptic Lagrangian immersions inducing the same invariant functions, then, by the Cartan–Darboux uniqueness theorem, there exists a symplectic motion S : R4 → R4 such that f̃ = Sf . 4 Symplectic applicability In this section we investigate the extent to which the invariants are really needed to determine an elliptic Lagrangian immersion up to symmetry. We take the point of view of surface applicability as in classical projective differential geometry and Lie sphere geometry [12, 8, 9, 4, 23, 18]. 4.1 Generic Lagrangian immersions Suppose that H, the normalized Hopf differential, is never zero. Then the Hermitian form P = ( (h̄zh̄ −1)z̄ − (hz̄h −1)z ) dzdz̄ is well defined, independent of the choice of the complex parameter (U, z) and of the adapted frame (the reason for considering this form will be clear in the proof of the next proposition). Definition 8. An elliptic Lagrangian immersion f : M → R4 is called generic if H(q) 6= 0 and P(q) 6= 0, for each q ∈ M . Proposition 2. A generic elliptic Lagrangian immersion is uniquely determined, up to affine symplectic transformation, by the Fubini cubic form. Proof. Fix a complex parameter (U, z) and choose an adapted frame field S : U → S(4, R). If h 6= 0, then (11) implies the existence of a unique real-valued function s : U → R such that p = hs +D2(h), where D2(h) = 1 2h̄ ( h̄zz − hz̄z̄ ) . Differentiating this identity and using pz̄ = 2hh̄z − i|h|2z, 12 E Musso and L. Nicolodi we get ds = −s ( 1 h hz̄dz̄ + 1 h̄ h̄zdz ) − ( D3(h)dz̄ +D3(h)dz ) , (13) where D3(h) = 1 h [ (D2(h))z̄ − 2hh̄z + i|h|2z ] . Differentiation of (13) gives P2(h)s +D4(h) = 0, where P2(h) = (h̄zh̄ −1)z̄ − (hz̄h −1)z and D4(h) = D3(h)z̄ −D3(h)z − h̄−1h̄zD3(h) + h−1hz̄D3(h). If P2(h) 6= 0, then s = −D4(h) P2(h) . Therefore, for a generic elliptic Lagrangian immersion (i.e. h 6= 0 and P2(h) 6= 0), the functions h and p are determined by the Fubini cubic form. Thus, a generic f is uniquely determined, up to symplectic congruence, by its Fubini cubic form. � 4.2 Applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersions In this section we investigate the special class of surfaces which are not determined by the Fubini cubic form alone. Definition 9. Two noncongruent elliptic Lagrangian immersions f , f̃ : M → R4 are applicable if they induce the same Fubini cubic forms, F = F̃ . An elliptic Lagrangian immersion f : M → R4 is applicable if there exists an elliptic Lagrangian immersion f̃ : M → R4 such that f and f̃ are applicable. Moreover, an elliptic Lagrangian immersion f is rigid if any elliptic Lagrangian immersion inducing the same Fubini cubic form as that of f is congruent to f . Remark 5. According to Proposition 2, any generic elliptic Lagrangian immersion is rigid. Theorem 2. An elliptic Lagrangian immersion f : M → R4 is applicable if and only if there exists a non-zero holomorphic quadratic differential Q on M such that H ∧R Q = 0.4 Proof. First, we consider the case H ≡ 0. Then, F is a never vanishing holomorphic cubic differential. Since M is simply connected, M is either the complex plane or the unit disk. In both cases, there exist a global complex coordinate z : M → C and a global adapted frame field S : M → S(4, R) with invariant functions t : M → C, h = 0 and p : M → C. Consider a non-zero holomorphic differential Q = λ dz2 and set p̃ = p − λ. The functions t, h = 0 and p̃ satisfy equations (11). The corresponding f̃ has F̃ = F , but is not congruent to f . We now examine the case H 6= 0. Let f , f̃ be two noncongruent elliptic Lagrangian im- mersions inducing the same Fubini cubic forms. Let S, S̃ : U → S(4, R) be the corresponding 4H ∧R Q = 0 means that H and Q are linearly dependent over the reals. Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 13 adapted frame fields with respect to a fixed complex parameter (U, z). Since t = t̃, equations (11) imply that h = h̃ and that p− p̃ is a non-zero holomorphic function satisfying (p1 − p̃1)h2 − (p2 − p̃2)h1 = 0. Then, QU = (p−p̃)dz2 is a non-zero holomorphic quadratic differential on U such thatH∧RQU = 0. Let (Û , ẑ) be another complex parameter and let Q̂Û be the corresponding holomorphic quadratic differential. The equations H ∧R QU = 0 and H ∧R Q̂Û = 0 imply that Q = λUÛ Q̂ on U ∩ Û 6= ∅, where λUÛ is a real-valued, locally constant function. The functions {expλUÛ}, defined on each ordered pair (U, Û) when U ∩ Û 6= ∅, generate an R+-valued 1-cocycle on M , which is trivial because M is simply connected. Therefore, there exists a globally defined non- zero holomorphic quadratic differential Q′ such that QU = Q′|U , for every (U, z). Conversely, suppose there exists a non-zero holomorphic quadratic differential Q such that H ∧R Q = 0. This implies that M is either C or the unit disk. Let z be a global complex coordinate on M and let S : M → S(4, R) be the associated adapted frame field. Set Q = w dz2, where w = w1 + iw2 is a holomorphic non-zero function. Now, the invariant functions t, h and p, calculated with respect to S, satisfy (11). Since H∧R Q = 0, that is w1h2 − w2h1 = 0, also t, h and p̃ = p − w satisfy (11). The corresponding elliptic Lagrangian immersions f , f̃ : M → R4 are applicable. � Remark 6. If H 6= 0, then equation H ∧R Q = 0 determines Q up to a real constant multiple. For each λ ∈ R, define the invariant functions tλ = t, hλ = h and pλ = p − λ. It is clear that tλ, hλ and pλ satisfy the integrability equations (11). Therefore, up to affine symplectic transformation, there exists a unique fλ with Fλ = F . As pλ are distinct for distinct values of λ, the immersions fλ are noncongruent for distinct values of λ. This shows that applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersions come in 1-parameter families. Interestingly enough, away from the points where h vanishes (umbilics), the Gauss map of an applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersion f is an isothermic spacelike immersion. Moreover, the Gauss maps of the 1-parameter family of associates to f are the T -transforms of Bianchi and Calapso of γf (cf. [7, 3, 16]). Remark 7. The 1-parameter family of associates to an applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersion are related to its second order affine symplectic deformations. We will not discuss this issue here. We just recall that two elliptic Lagrangian immersions f, f̃ : M → R4 are second order affine symplectic deformations of each other if there exists a smooth map D : M → S(4, R) such that, for each q ∈ M , the Taylor expansions about q of D(q)f and f̃ agree through second order terms. For the general notion of applicability and deformation in homogeneous spaces we refer the reader to [14, 17]. 4.3 The differential equations of applicable Lagrangian immersions Let f : M → R4 be an applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersion and let Q be a non-zero holomorphic quadratic differential on M such that H ∧R Q = 0. If we suppose that Q never vanishes, we can choose a complex coordinate (U, z) such that Q = dz2. Let S : U → S(4, R) be a frame field along f adapted to (U, z) with invariant functions t, h and p. Now, the equation H ∧R Q = 0 implies that h is real valued. Next, in analogy with [6, 24] we deduce the differential equations satisfied by the invariant functions of an elliptic Lagrangian immersion. With respect to the adapted frame field S, we have α1 1 = −α2 2 = hdx, α2 1 = α1 2 = −hdy, 14 E Musso and L. Nicolodi where h is a real-valued function. From (2), we compute β1 1 = (p1 + hx + h2)dx− (p2 + hy)dy, β2 2 = −(p1 − hx + h2)dx + (p2 − hy)dy, β2 1 = −p2dx− (p1 − h2)dy. Using (3), we find hxy = −2hp2, (p1)y = −(p2)x − 2(h2)y, (p1)x = (p2)y + 2(h2)x. Thus, calculated with respect to a complex parameter z such that Q = dz2, the integrability equations of an applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersion are tz̄ = ht̄, hxy = −2hp2, ∆p2 = −4(h2)xy. (14) If (t, h, p2) is a solution of this system, the 1-form[ (p2)y + 2(h2)x ] dx− [ (p2)x + 2(h2)y ] dy is closed. If p1 : M → R is so that dp1 = [ (p2)y + 2(h2)x ] dx− [ (p2)x + 2(h2)y ] dy, then t, h and p = p1 + ip2 give a solution of (11). Thus, up to congruence, there exists a unique elliptic Lagrangian immersion f : M → R4 with invariant functions t, h and p. Different choices of the primitive p1 yield the family of associate immersions applicable to f . 4.4 Totally umbilic Lagrangian immersions Definition 10. An elliptic Lagrangian immersion f is called totally umbilic if its Hopf differen- tial H vanishes identically, or, equivalently, h vanishes identically. This terminology is based on the observation that H ≡ 0 if and only if the Gauss map Tf of f is a totally umbilic spacelike immersion (cf. [5]). Remark 8. Note that f is totally umbilic if and only if its Fubini cubic form F is holomorphic (cf. (12)). In this case, M is either the complex plane or the unit disk. Therefore, there exists a global parameter z on M and a global adapted frame field S : M → S(4, R) along f . Proposition 3. Let f, f̃ : M → R4 be two noncongruent, totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersions. Then there exists a biholomorphism Φ : M → M such that f and f̃ ◦ Φ are applicable. Proof. On M there are complex parameters z, w : M → W , W = C or ∆, such that F = (dz)3 and F̃ = (dw)3. Then Φ := w−1 ◦ z : M → M is a biholomorphic map such that f and f̃ ◦ Φ have the same Fubini cubic differential. This yields the required result. � Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 15 4.5 Complex curves and Lagrangian immersions On R4, consider the complex structure defined by the identification of R4 with C2 given by I : t ( x1, x2, x3, x4 ) ∈ R4 7→ t ( x1 − ix2, x3 + ix4 ) ∈ C2. Then, any complex line generates a Lagrangian plane, which implies that a complex immersion f : M → R4 ' C2 is automatically Lagrangian. Let ISL(2, C) ∼= C2 o SL(2, C) be the inhomogeneous group associated with the unimodular complex group SL(2, C). The group ISL(2, C) can be realized as a closed subgroup of S(4, R) by( 1 0 v A ) ∈ ISL(2, C) 7→ ( 1 0 I−1v [I−1AI] ) ∈ S(4, R), where, if we write A ∈ SL(2, C) in the form A = (vi j) + i(wi j), for vi j , wi j ∈ R, [I−1AI] =  v1 1 w1 1 v1 2 −w1 2 −w1 1 v1 1 −w1 2 −v1 2 v2 1 w2 1 v2 2 −w2 2 w2 1 −v2 1 w2 2 v2 2  . The Lie algebra isl(2, C) identifies with the Lie subalgebra of s(4, R) consisting of all S(p,x) ∈ s(4, R) such that x = ( a b c −ta ) , where b, c ∈ S(2, R), tr (b) = tr (c) = 0, a1 1 − a2 2 = 0, a2 1 + a1 2 = 0. (15) The precise relation between complex curves and elliptic Lagrangian immersions is summa- rized in the following statement. Proposition 4. If f : M → C2 is a complex curve without flex points5, then f is a totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersion. Conversely, let f : M → R4 be a totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersion. Then there exists an affine symplectic transformation D ∈ S(4, R) such that D · f is a complex curve without flex points. Proof. Let f be a complex curve without flex points. We already observed that f is Lagrangian. Moreover, since f has no flex points, it is also elliptic. To prove that f is totally umbilic, we have just to observe that the Maurer–Cartan form of an adapted frame along f with respect to a given complex parameter takes values in isl(2, C). The defining conditions (7) for an adapted frame, combined with (15), yield that the invariant h vanishes identically, and hence f is totally umbilic. Conversely, let f be a totally umbilic elliptic Lagrangian immersion. For a fixed complex parameter z : M → C, let S : M → S(4, R) be an adapted frame field along f . Since f is totally umbilic, using (8), (9) and (10), we find that τ1 = t1dx− t2dy, τ2 = −t2dx− t1dy and γ = ( dx dy dy −dx ) , α = 0, β = ( p1dx− p2dy −p2dx− p1dy −p2dx− p1dy −p1dx + p2dy ) . 5A point q ∈ M is a flex point if fz|q ∧ fzz|q = 0, z complex coordinate on M . 16 E Musso and L. Nicolodi This implies that S−1dS is an isl(2, C)-valued 1-form of bidegree (1, 0), which implies that there exists an element D ∈ S(4, R) such that DS is holomorphic and takes values in ISL(2, C). Therefore, Df is a complex curve without flex points. � Remark 9. Let f : M → C2 be a complex curve. Possibly replacing f with Df , for some D ∈ S(4, R), the homogeneous part X : M → SL(2, C) of the frame field adapted to a complex coordinate z satisfies X−1dX = ( 0 −ip 1 0 ) dz. In particular, f can be obtained by integrating the first column vector of X, i.e. f = ∫ X1dz. Note that X : M → SL(2, C) is a contact complex curve in SL(2, C). This shows that totally umbilic Lagrangian surfaces are strictly related to the geometry of flat fronts in hyperbolic 3-space [13, 20]. For a fixed choice of the complex parameter, let Xλ : M → SL(2, C) be so that X−1 λ dXλ = ( 0 −i(p− λ) 1 0 ) dz. Then, the 1-parameter family of complex curves fλ obtained by integrating the first column vector of Xλ are not congruent to each other and are all applicable over f . 5 Examples The simplest non-umbilic solutions of (14) are given by taking h and p real constants. Possibly rescaling the complex parameter z by a real constant, we may assume h = 1. The only equation to be solved is then tz̄ = t̄. The homogeneous part of the Maurer–Cartan form of the adapted frame S is θ = Adx + Bdy, where A, B ∈ sp(4, R) are given by A =  1 0 p + 1 0 0 −1 0 −(p + 1) 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 1  , B =  0 −1 0 1− p −1 0 1− p 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0  . Since A and B commute, the general solution of X−1dX is X(x, y) = YExp(xA+ yB), where Y ∈ Sp(4, R). Without loss of generality, we may assume Y = I4. Then the first two column vectors of X are X1 =  cosh( √ 2− py) ( cosh( √ 2 + px) + sinh( √ 2+px)√ 2+p ) − ( √ p+2 cosh( √ p+2x)+p sinh( √ p+2x)) sinh( √ 2−py)√ 4−p2 cosh( √ 2−py) sinh( √ p+2x)√ p+2 ( √ p+2 cosh( √ p+2x)+2 sinh( √ p+2x)) sinh( √ 2−py)√ 4−p2  Symplectic Applicability of Lagrangian Surfaces 17 and X2 =  (− √ p+2 cosh( √ p+2x)+p sinh( √ p+2x)) sinh( √ 2−py)√ 4−p2 cosh( √ 2− py) ( cosh( √ 2 + px)− sinh( √ 2+px)√ 2+p ) ( √ p+2 cosh( √ p+2x)−2 sinh( √ p+2x)) sinh( √ 2−py)√ 4−p2 − cosh( √ 2−py) sinh( √ p+2x)√ p+2  . If t = t1 + it2 is a solution of tz̄ = t̄, that is (t1)x − (t2)y = t1, (t1)y + (t1)x = −t2, then the R4-valued 1-form Y1dx + Y2dy = (t1X1 − t2X2)dx− (t2X1 + t1X2)dy is closed and the corresponding Lagrangian immersion f can be computed by solving df = Y1dx + Y2dy = (t1X1 − t2X2)dx− (t2X1 + t1X2)dy. This is an elliptic Lagrangian immersion with Fubini’s cubic form F = t2 dz3. For a fixed t and p 6= 2, we have the 1-parameter family of applicable immersions. Explicit solutions of tz̄ = t̄ can be obtained with the ansatz t1(x, y) = v1(x) + w1(y), t2(x, y) = v2(x) + w2(y). We then have v1(x) = c1e 2x − a1, v2(x) = c2e −2x − a2, w1(y) = m1e 2y + m2e −2y − a1, w2(y) = −m1e 2y + m2e −2y + a2, where a1, a2, c1, c2, m1 and m2 are real constants. In this case, the integration involves elementary functions and can be performed explicitly. The general formulae are rather involved expressions and can be obtained with any standard software of scientific computation such as Mathematica 6. For instance, if a1 = a2 = 0 and m1 = m2 = 0, the components of the immersions f are given by fj(x, y) = e−2x (p− 2) √ (p + 2)(4− p2) ( cosh( √ p + 2x)Aj(x, y) + sinh( √ p + 2x)Bj(x, y) ) , j = 1, . . . , 4, where the functions Aj(y) and Bj(y) are given by A1(x, y) = −c1e 4x √ (p + 2)(4− p2) cosh( √ 2− py)− c2(p2 − 4) sinh( √ 2− py), A2(x, y) = −c1e 4x(p2 − 4) sinh( √ 2− py)− c2 √ (p + 2)(4− p2) cosh( √ 2− py)), A3(x, y) = c1e 4x √ (p + 2)(4− p2) cosh( √ 2− py), A4(x, y) = c2 √ (p + 2)(4− p2) cosh( √ 2− py), and by B1(x, y) = c1e 4xp √ 4− p2 cosh( √ 2− py)− c2(p− 2) √ p + 2 sinh( √ 2− py), B2(x, y) = c1e 4x(p− 2) √ p + 2 sinh( √ 2− py)− c2p √ 4− p2 cosh( √ 2− py), B3(x, y) = −2c1e 4x √ 4− p2 cosh( √ 2− py)− c2(p− 2) √ p + 2 sinh( √ 2− py), B4(x, y) = c1e 4x(p− 2) √ p + 2 sinh( √ 2− py) + 2c2 √ 4− p2 cosh( √ 2− py). 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Math., to appear, arXiv:0712.0807. http://arxiv.org/abs/math.SG/0502481 http://arxiv.org/abs/0706.3055 http://arxiv.org/abs/dg-ga/9411010 http://arxiv.org/abs/math.DG/9810157 http://arxiv.org/abs/math.DG/0301224 http://arxiv.org/abs/math.DG/0508118 http://arxiv.org/abs/math.DG/0508118 http://arxiv.org/abs/0712.0807 1 Introduction 2 Preliminaries 2.1 Affine symplectic frames and structure equations 2.2 Oriented Lagrangian planes 2.3 Lagrangian immersions 3 Moving frames on elliptic Lagrangian immersions 3.1 Frame reductions and differential invariants 3.1.1 First order frame fields 3.1.2 Second order frame fields 3.1.3 Third order frame fields 3.2 Adapted frame fields 3.2.1 Invariant functions and integrability equations 4 Symplectic applicability 4.1 Generic Lagrangian immersions 4.2 Applicable elliptic Lagrangian immersions 4.3 The differential equations of applicable Lagrangian immersions 4.4 Totally umbilic Lagrangian immersions 4.5 Complex curves and Lagrangian immersions 5 Examples References