Dennis The

We exploit a natural correspondence between holomorphic (2, 3, 5)-distributions and nondegenerate lines on holomorphic contact manifolds of dimension 5 to present a new perspective in the study of symmetries of (2, 3, 5)-distributions. This leads to a number of new results in this classical subject, including an unexpected relation between the multiply-transitive families of models having 7- and 6-dimensional symmetries, and a one-to-one correspondence between equivalence classes of nontransitive (2, 3, 5)-distributions with 6-dimensional symmetries and nonhomogeneous nondegenerate Legendrian curves in $${{\mathbb {P}}}^3$$ P 3 . An ingredient for establishing the former is an explicit classification of homogeneous nondegenerate Legendrian curves in $${{\mathbb {P}}}^3$$ P 3 , which we present. Moreover, our approach gives a new perspective on exceptionality of the 3 : 1 ratio for two 2-spheres rolling on each other without twisting or slipping.

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 $$\textrm{G}_2$$ G 2 ) were previously known, and these include fascinating examples arising from the rolling of surfaces without twisting or slipping. We establish a complete local classification result for achieving maximal symmetry of the twistor distribution, identified among those homogeneous 4D split-conformal structures for which the conformal 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.

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.

We exploit a natural correspondence between holomorphic $(2,3,5)$-distributions and nondegenerate lines on holomorphic contact manifolds of dimension $5$ to present a new perspective in the study of symmetries of $(2,3,5)$-distributions. This leads to a number of new results in this classical subject, including an unexpected relation between the multiply-transitive families of models having $7$- and $6$-dimensional symmetries, and a one-to-one correspondence between equivalence classes of nontransitive $(2,3,5)$-distributions with $6$-dimensional symmetries and nonhomogeneous nondegenerate Legendrian curves in $\mathbb{P}^3$. An ingredient for establishing the former is an explicit classification of homogeneous nondegenerate Legendrian curves in $\mathbb{P}^3$, which we present.

For the largest exceptional simple Lie superalgebra $F(4)$, having dimension $(24|16)$, we provide two explicit geometric realizations as supersymmetries, namely as the symmetry superalgebra of super-PDE systems of second and third order respectively.

The fundamental invariants for vector ODEs of order $\ge 3$ considered up to point transformations consist of generalized Wilczynski invariants and C-class invariants. An ODE of C-class is characterized by the vanishing of the former. For any fixed C-class invariant ${\mathcal U}$, we give a local (point) classification for all submaximally symmetric ODEs of C-class with ${\mathcal U} \not \equiv 0$ and all remaining C-class invariants vanishing identically. Our results yield generalizations of a well-known classical result for scalar ODEs due to Sophus Lie. Fundamental invariants correspond to the harmonic curvature of the associated Cartan geometry. A key new ingredient underlying our classification results is an advance concerning the harmonic theory associated with the structure of vector ODEs of C-class. Namely, for each irreducible C-class module, we provide an explicit identification of a lowest weight vector as a harmonic 2-cochain.

The maximal contact symmetry dimensions for scalar ODEs of order $\ge 4$ and vector ODEs of order $\ge 3$ are well known. Using a Cartan-geometric approach, we determine for these ODEs the next largest realizable (submaximal) symmetry dimension. Moreover, finer curvature-constrained submaximal symmetry dimensions are also classified.