Conformal structures with $G_2$-symmetric twistor distribution

TL;DR

This paper classifies certain 4D split-signature conformal structures with highly symmetric twistor distributions, revealing their geometric properties and connections to exceptional Lie algebra symmetries.

Contribution

It provides a complete local classification of homogeneous 4D split-conformal structures with G2 symmetry acting multiply transitively.

Findings

Maximal symmetry twistor distributions correspond to G2 symmetry.

Classification of homogeneous structures with multiply-transitive symmetry.

Analysis of curvature, holonomy, and Einstein metrics in these structures.

Abstract

For any 4D split-signature conformal structure, there is an induced twistor distribution on the 5D space of all self-dual totally null 2-planes, which is $(2,3,5)$ when the conformal structure is not anti-self-dual. Several examples where the twistor distribution achieves maximal symmetry (the split-real form of the exceptional simple Lie algebra of type $\mathrm{G}_2$) were previously known, and these include fascinating examples arising from the rolling of surfaces without twisting or slipping. Relaxing the rolling assumption, we establish a complete local classification result among those homogeneous 4D split-conformal structures for which the symmetry algebra induces a multiply-transitive action on the 5D space. Furthermore, we discuss geometric properties of these conformal structures such as their curvature, holonomy, and existence of Einstein representatives.