Asymptotically Conical Associative 3-folds

Given an associative 3-fold in R^7 which is asymptotically conical with generic rate less than 1, we show that its moduli space of deformations is locally homeomorphic to the kernel of a smooth map between smooth manifolds. Moreover, the virtual dimension of the moduli space is computed and shown to be non-negative for rates greater than -1, whereas the associative 3-fold is expected to be isolated for rates less than or equal to -1.Comment: 33 pages, v2: major changes for published version, mainly regarding the twisted Dirac and d-bar operator

Associative Submanifolds of the 7-Sphere

Associative submanifolds of the 7-sphere S^7 are 3-dimensional minimal submanifolds which are the links of calibrated 4-dimensional cones in R^8 called Cayley cones. Examples of associative 3-folds are thus given by the links of complex and special Lagrangian cones in C^4, as well as Lagrangian submanifolds of the nearly K\"ahler 6-sphere. By classifying the associative group orbits, we exhibit the first known explicit example of an associative 3-fold in S^7 which does not arise from other geometries. We then study associative 3-folds satisfying the curvature constraint known as Chen's equality, which is equivalent to a natural pointwise condition on the second fundamental form, and describe them using a new family of pseudoholomorphic curves in the Grassmannian of 2-planes in R^8 and isotropic minimal surfaces in S^6. We also prove that associative 3-folds which are ruled by geodesic circles, like minimal surfaces in space forms, admit families of local isometric deformations. Finally, we construct associative 3-folds satisfying Chen's equality which have an S^1-family of global isometric deformations using harmonic 2-spheres in S^6.Comment: 42 pages, v2: minor corrections, streamlined and improved exposition, published version; Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society, Advance Access published 17 June 201

Ruled Lagrangian Submanifolds of the 6-Sphere

This article sets out to serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, we give an explicit description of the Lagrangian submanifolds of the nearly Kaehler 6-sphere which are ruled by circles of constant radius using Weierstrass formulae. On the other, we recognise all previous known examples of these Lagrangians as being ruled by such circles. Therefore, we describe all families of Lagrangians in the 6-sphere whose second fundamental form satisfies natural pointwise conditions: so-called second order families.Comment: 46 pages, v2: minor corrections, version to appear in Trans. Amer. Math. So