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This thesis is concerned with the theory of invariant bilinear differential pairings on parabolic geometries. It introduces the concept formally with the help of the jet bundle formalism and provides a detailed analysis. More precisely, after introducing the most important notations and definitions, we first of all give an algebraic description for pairings on homogeneous spaces and obtain a first existence theorem. Next, a classification of first order invariant bilinear differential pairings is given under exclusion of certain degenerate cases that are related to the existence of invariant linear differential operators. Furthermore, a concrete formula for a large class of invariant bilinear differential pairings of arbitrary order is given and many examples are computed. The general theory of higher order invariant bilinear differential pairings turns out to be much more intricate and a general construction is only possible under exclusion of finitely many degenerate cases whose significance in general remains elusive (although a result for projective geometry is included). The construction relies on so-called splitting operators examples of which are described for projective geometry, conformal geometry and CR geometry in the last chapter. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1339548 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Mathematical Sciences, 2008

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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.

Konforme Potenzen des Dirac Operators einer semi Riemannschen Spin-Mannigfaltigkeit werden untersucht. Wir präsentieren einen neuen Beweis, basierend auf dem Traktor Kalkül, für die Existenz von konformen ungeraden Potenzen des Dirac Operators auf semi Riemannschen Spin-Mannigfaltigkeiten. Desweiteren konstruieren wir eine neue Familie von konform kovarianten linearen Differentialoperatoren auf dem standard spin Traktor Bündel. Weiterhin verallgemeinern wir den Existenzbeweis für konforme ungerade Potenzen des Dirac Operators auf semi Riemannsche Spin-Mannigfaltigkeiten. Da die Existenzbeweise konstruktive sind, erhalten wir explizite Formeln für die konforme dritte und fünfte Potenz des Dirac Operators. Basierend auf den expliziten Formeln zeigen wir, dass die konforme dritte und fünfte Potenz des Dirac Operators formal selbstadjungiert (anti selbstadjungiert) bezüglich des L2-Skalarproduktes auf dem Spinorbündel ist. Abschliessend präsentieren wir neue Strukturen der konformen ersten, dritten und fünften Potenz des Dirac Operators: Es existieren lineare Differentialoperatoren auf dem Spinorbündel der Ordnung kleiner gleich eins, so dass die konforme erste, dritte und fünfte Potenz des Dirac Operators ein Polynom in jenen Operatoren ist. / Conformal powers of the Dirac operator on semi Riemannian spin manifolds are investigated. We give a new proof of the existence of conformal odd powers of the Dirac operator on semi Riemannian spin manifolds using the tractor machinery. We will also present a new family of conformally covariant linear differential operators on the standard spin tractor bundle. Furthermore, we generalize the known existence proof of conformal power of the Dirac operator on Riemannian spin manifolds to semi Riemannian spin manifolds. Both proofs concering the existence of conformal odd powers of the Dirac operator are constructive, hence we also derive an explicit formula for a conformal third- and fifth power of the Dirac operator. Due to explicit formulas, we show that the conformal third- and fifth power of the Dirac operator is formally self-adjoint (anti self-adjoint), with respect to the L2-scalar product on the spinor bundle. Finally, we present a new structure of the conformal first-, third- and fifth power of the Dirac operator: There exist linear differential operators on the spinor bundle of order less or equal one, such that the conformal first-, third- and fifth power of the Dirac operator is a polynomial in these operators.

In dieser Dissertation werden Cartan-Ränder von CR-Mannigfaltigkeiten und ihren Fefferman-Räumen besprochen. Der Fefferman-Raum einer strikt pseudo-konvexen CR-Mannigfaltigkeit ist als das Bündel aller reellen Strahlen im kanonischen, komplexen Linienbündel definiert. Eine andere Definition nutzt die Cartan-Geometrie und führt zu einer starken Beziehung zwischen den Cartan-Geometrien der CR-Mannigfaltigkeit und des zugehörigen Fefferman-Raumes. Allerdings wird hier die Existenz einer gewissen Wurzel des antikanonischen, komplexen Linienbündels, dessen Existenz nur lokal gesichert ist, vorausgesetzt. Für Randkonstruktionen benötigen wir jedoch eine globale Konstruktion des Fefferman-Raumes. Dennoch können lokale Resultate zum Fefferman-Raum von einer Konstruktion zur anderen übertragen werden können, da konforme Überlagerungen von beiden vorliegen. Der Cartan-Rand einer Mannigfaltigkeit wird mithilfe der zugehörigen Cartan-Geometrie konstruiert, welche eine globale Basis und damit auch eine Riemannsche Metrik auf dem Cartan-Bündel definiert, welches per Cauchy-Vervollständigung abgeschlossen wird. Division durch die Strukturgruppe ergibt den Cartan-Rand der Mannigfaltigkeit. Der Cartan-Rand ist eine Verallgemeinerung des Cauchy-Randes, da beide im Riemannschen übereinstimmen. Allgemein ist der Cartan-Rand nicht unbedingt Hausdorffsch, was nicht wirklich überrascht, sind doch Rand-Phänomene "irgendwie singulär". Wir stellen fest, dass für CR-Mannigfaltigkeit und ihre Fefferman-Räume die Projektion des Cartan-Randes des Fefferman-Raumes den Cartan-Rand der CR-Mannigfaltigkeit enthält. Schließlich betrachten wir die Heisenberg-Gruppe, eines der grundlegenden Beispiele für CR-Mannigfaltigkeiten. Sie ist flach aber - anders als der homogene Raum - nicht kompakt. Wir finden, dass der Cartan-Rand der Heisenberg-Gruppe ein einzelner Punkt und der Cartan-Rand des zugehörigen Fefferman-Raumes eine nicht-ausgeartete Faser über diesem ist. / The aim of this thesis is to discuss the Cartan boundaries of CR manifolds and their Fefferman spaces. The Fefferman space of a strictly pseudo-convex CR manifold is defined as the bundle of all real rays in the canonical complex line bundle. Another way of defining the Fefferman space of a CR manifold uses the tools of Cartan geometry and leads to a strong relationship between the Cartan geometries of a CR manifold and the corresponding Fefferman space. However here the existence of a certain root of the anticanonical complex line bundle is requested which can solely be guarantied locally. As we are interested in boundaries we need a global construction of the Fefferman space. Still we find that local results on the Fefferman space can be transferred from one construction to the other since we have conformal coverings of both. The Cartan boundary of a manifold is constructed with the help of the corresponding Cartan geometry, which defines a global frame and hence a Riemannian metric on the Cartan bundle which can be completed by Cauchy completion. Division by the structure group gives the Cartan boundary of the manifold. The Cartan boundary is a generalization of the Cauchy boundary since both coincide in the Riemannian case. In general the Cartan boundary is not necessarily Hausdorff, which is not really surprising since boundary phenomena are somehow ``singular''''. For CR manifolds and their Fefferman spaces we especially prove that the projection of the Cartan boundary of the Fefferman space contains the Cartan boundary of the CR manifold. We finally discuss the Heisenberg group, one of the basic examples of CR manifolds. It is flat but - contrary to the homogeneous space - not compact. We find that the Cartan boundary of the Heisenberg group is a single point and the Cartan boundary of the corresponding Fefferman space is a non degenerate fibre over that point.