The geometric sense of R. Sasaki connection

Abstract

For the Riemannian manifold $M^{n}$ two special connections on the sum of the tangent bundle $TM^{n}$ and the trivial one-dimensional bundle are constructed. These connections are flat if and only if the space $M^{n}$ has a constant sectional curvature $\pm 1$. The geometric explanation of this property is given. This construction gives a coordinate free many-dimensional generalization of the connection from the paper: R. Sasaki 1979 Soliton equations and pseudospherical surfaces, Nuclear Phys., {\bf 154 B}, pp. 343-357. It is shown that these connections are in close relation with the imbedding of $M^{n}$ into Euclidean or pseudoeuclidean $(n+1)$-dimension spaces.Comment: 7 pages, the key reference to the paper of Min-Oo is included in the second versio