Geometry of lightlike locus on mixed type surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space from a contact viewpoint

TL;DR

This paper investigates the local differential geometry of lightlike loci on mixed type surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space, introducing a frame field and lightlike ruled surfaces to analyze singularities and intersection curves.

Contribution

It introduces a new framework for analyzing lightlike loci using frame fields and lightlike ruled surfaces, providing insights into their singularities and geometric properties.

Findings

Defined a frame field along lightlike loci.

Established relationships between singularities and geometric properties.

Analyzed intersection curves as models of lightlike loci.

Abstract

A surface in the Lorentz-Minkowski $3$-space is generally a mixed type surface, namely, it has the lightlike locus. We study local differential geometric properties of such a locus on a mixed type surface. We define a frame field along a lightlike locus, and using it, we define two lightlike ruled surfaces along a lightlike locus which can be regarded as lightlike approximations of the surface along the lightlike locus. We study a relationship of singularities of these lightlike surfaces and differential geometric properties of the lightlike locus. We also consider the intersection curve of two lightlike approximations, which gives a model curve of the lightlike locus.