This book presents the first steps of a theory of confoliations designed to link geometry and topology of three-dimensional contact structures with the geometry and topology of codimension-one foliations on three-dimensional manifolds. Developing almost independently, these theories at first glance belonged to two different worlds: The theory of foliations is part of topology and dynamical systems, while contact geometry is the odd-dimensional "brother" of symplectic geometry. 
However, both theories have developed a number of striking similarities. Confoliations--which interpolate between contact structures and codimension-one foliations--should help us to understand better links between the two theories. These links provide tools for transporting results from one field to the other.

Confoliations (13) (University Lecture Series)

Science & Math

Thurston, William P.

Eliashberg, Y.

Mathematics

Amer Mathematical Society

In differential geometry and topology one often deals with systems of partial differential equations, as well as partial differential inequalities, that have infinitely many solutions whatever boundary conditions are imposed. It was discovered in the fifties that the solvability of differential relations (i.e. equations and inequalities) of this kind can often be reduced to a problem of a purely homotopy-theoretic nature. One says in this case that the corresponding differential relation satisfies the $h$-principle. Two famous examples of the $h$-principle, the Nash-Kuiper $C^1$-isometric embedding theory in Riemannian geometry and the Smale-Hirsch immersion theory in differential topology, were later transformed by Gromov into powerful general methods for establishing the $h$-principle. 
The authors cover two main methods for proving the $h$-principle: holonomic approximation and convex integration. The reader will find that, with a few notable exceptions, most instances of the $h$-principle can be treated by the methods considered here. A special emphasis in the book is made on applications to symplectic and contact geometry. 
Gromov's famous book "Partial Differential Relations", which is devoted to the same subject, is an encyclopedia of the $h$-principle, written for experts, while the present book is the first broadly accessible exposition of the theory and its applications. The book would be an excellent text for a graduate course on geometric methods for solving partial differential equations and inequalities. Geometers, topologists and analysts will also find much value in this very readable exposition of an important and remarkable topic.

Introduction to the H-Principle (Graduate Studies in Mathematics, V 48)

Mishachev, N.

Introduction To The H-principle

Cieliebak, Kai

Mishachev, N. (Nikolai M.)

Providence, Rhode Island : American Mathematical Society

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