$\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-Instantons from evolution equations

Abstract

In this paper we study $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-instantons on asymptotically conical $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-orbifolds (and manifolds) obtained by filling in certain squashed $3$-Sasakian $7$-manifolds. We construct a $1$-parameter family of explicit $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-instantons. Taking the parameter to infinity, the family (a) bubbles off an ASD connection in directions transverse to a certain Cayley submanifold $Z$, (b) away from $Z$ smoothly converges to a limit $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-instanton that extends across $Z$ onto a topologically distinct bundle, (c) satisfies an energy conservation law for the instantons and the bubbles concentrated on $Z$, and (d) determines a Fueter section, in the sense of Donaldson and Segal, Haydys and Walpuski.

22 pages, 1 figure