A new geometric structure on tangent bundles

Abstract

For a Riemannian manifold $(N,g)$, we construct a scalar flat metric $G$ in the tangent bundle $TN$. It is locally conformally flat if and only if either, $N$ is a 2-dimensional manifold or, $(N,g)$ is a real space form. It is also shown that $G$ is locally symmetric if and only if $g$ is locally symmetric. We then study submanifolds in $TN$ and, in particular, find the conditions for a curve to be geodesic. The conditions for a Lagrangian graph to be minimal or Hamiltonian minimal in the tangent bundle $T{\mathbb{R}}^n$ of the Euclidean real space ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ are studied. Finally, using the cross product in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$ we show that the space of oriented lines in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$ can be minimally isometrically embedded in $T{\mathbb{R}}^3$.

23 pages, AMS-Tex