We study the Hitchin component in the space of representations of the fundamental group of a Riemann surface into a split real Lie group in the rank 2 case. We prove that such representations are described by a conformal structure and class of Higgs bundle we call cyclic and we show cyclic Higgs bundles correspond to a form of the affine Toda equations. We also relate various real forms of the Toda equations to minimal surfaces in quadrics of arbitrary signature. In the case of the Hitchin component for PSL(3,R) we provide a new proof of the relation to convex RP²-structures and hyperbolic affine spheres. For PSp(4,R) we prove such representations are the monodromy for a special class of projective structure on the unit tangent bundle of the surface. We prove these are isomorphic to the convex-foliated projective structures of Guichard and Wienhard. We elucidate the geometry of generic 2-plane distributions in 5 dimensions, work which traces back to Cartan. Nurowski showed that there is an associated signature (2,3) conformal structure. We clarify this as a relationship between a parabolic geometry associated to the split real form of G₂ and a conformal geometry with holonomy in G₂. Moreover in terms of the conformal geometry we prove this distribution is the bundle of maximal isotropics corresponding to the annihilator of a spinor satisfying the twistor-spinor equation. The moduli space of deformations of a compact coassociative submanifold L in a G₂ manifold is shown to have a natural local embedding as a submanifold of H2(L,R). We consider G2-manifolds with a T^4-action of isomorphisms such that the orbits are coassociative tori and prove a local equivalence to minimal 3-manifolds in R^{3,3} = H²(T⁴,R) with positive induced metric. By studying minimal surfaces in quadrics we show how to construct minimal 3-manifold cones in R^{3,3} and hence G₂-metrics from equations that are a set of affine Toda equations. The relation to semi-flat special Lagrangian fibrations and the Monge-Ampere equation is explained.

In dieser Dissertation konstruieren wir neue Beispiele von koassoziativen Untermannigfaltigkeiten und G2-Instantonen in kompakten G2-Mannigfaltigkeiten, die aus Joyces verallgemeinerter Kummer Konstruktion hervorgehen. Die besondere Eigenschaft der in dieser Arbeit gefundenen koassoziativen Untermannigfaltigkeiten ist, dass ihr (topologisch bestimmtes) Volumen gegen Null geht, wenn die umgebende Mannigfaltigkeit sich ihrem Orbifaltigkeits-Limes annähert. Dies ist im Sinne eines Vorschlags von Halverson und Morrison, der darauf hinweist, dass bestimmte Entartungen (oder, allgemeiner, die Perioden) von G2-Strukturen durch das Verhalten von G2-topologischen Größen wie dem Volumen von assoziativen und koassoziativen Untermannigfaltigkeiten nachweisbar sein könnten. Die Konstruktion dieser koassoziativen Untermannigfaltigkeiten ist Inhalt von Kapitel 3 und basiert auf der Deformation von „Modell-Untermannigfaltigkeiten“. Diese Untermannigfaltigkeiten liegen innerhalb des kritischen Bereiches der umgebenden Mannigfaltigkeit, in welchem die Metrik entartet. Abschnitt 3.3 beinhaltet zahlreiche Beispiele von koassoziativen Untermannigfaltigkeiten, die wir durch diese Methode konstruieren. Des Weiteren beschreiben wir die Deformationsfamilie dieser koassoziativen Untermannigfaltigkeiten. In Kapitel 4 konstruieren wir neue Beispiele von G2-Instantonen über verallgemeinerten Kummer Konstruktionen. Wir konzentrieren uns hierbei hauptsächlich auf Auflösungen von Orbifaltigkeiten, deren singuläre Strata von Kodimension 6 sind. Wie im vorherigen Kapitel basiert die Konstruktion dieser Instantonen auf einem Klebesatz, welcher einen Zusammenhang deformiert, der (im quantifizierten Sinne) fast ein G2-Instanton ist. Außerdem benutzen wir Gruppenwirkungen um die Obstruktionen zu reduzieren. Mithilfe dieser Methode konstruieren wir in Abschnitt 4.4 eine unendliche Familie von G2-Instantonen auf einem Bündel über einer bestimmten Kummer Konstruktion. / In this thesis we construct new examples of coassociative submanifolds and G2-instantons in compact G2-manifolds arising from Joyce’s generalised Kummer construction. The special feature of the coassociative submanifolds found in this thesis is that their (topologically determined) volume shrinks to zero as the ambient manifold approaches its orbifold limit. This is in the spirit of a proposal by Halverson and Morrison which indicates that certain degenerations (or, more general, the periods) of G2-structures may be detectable by the behaviour of G2-topological quantities such as the volume of associative and coassociative submanifolds. The construction of these coassociative submanifolds is the content of Chapter 3. It is based on the deformation of ‘model-submanfiolds’. These submanifolds lie within the critical locus of the ambient manifold in which the metric degenerates. Section 3.3 contains numerous examples of coassociative submanifolds which we construct via this method. Furthermore, we give a description of the deformation family of these coassociative submanifolds. In Chapter 4 we construct new examples of G2-instantons over generalised Kummer constructions. We focus mainly on resolutions of orbifolds whose singular strata are of codimension 6. As in the previous chapter, the construction of these instantons is based on a gluing theorem which deforms a connection that is (in a quantified sense) close to being a G2-instanton. Furthermore, we use group actions to reduce the obstructions. Using this method, we construct in Section 4.4 an infinite family of G2-instantons on a bundle over one particular Kummer construction.