Finite-gap Solutions of the Vortex Filament Equation, I

Abstract

For the class of quasi-periodic solutions of the vortex filament equation, we study connections between the algebro-geometric data used for their explicit construction and the geometry of the evolving curves. We give a complete description of genus one solutions, including geometrically interesting special cases such as Euler elastica, constant torsion curves, and self-intersecting filaments. We also prove generalizations of these connections to higher genus.

36 pages, 8 figures; additional references included