Survey of Generalized Contact Structures

A generalized complex structure, as introduced by N. Hitchin, is a common generalization of both symplectic and complex structures. Generalized complex geometry provides a natural geometric framework to understand certain recent developments in string physics, and has developed into an active area of research. Very recently, an odd dimensional analogue of a generalized complex structure, namely a generalized contact structure, has been introduced in the works of Vaizman, Poon and Wade. In this thesis, we survey the recent works on generalized contact structures. More importantly, we prove a local normal form theorem of a generalized contact structure. This result, which is a joint work with Yi Lin, is original.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Mathematics (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Mathematical Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2010

Author dc:creator

• Bland, James

Contributors dc:contributor

• Xiangdong Xie
• Francois Ziegler

• ETD
• Contact structure
• Darboux theorem
• Mathematics
• Geometry
• Differential
• Symplectic geometry

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/656

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1656