Almost complex surfaces in the nearly K\"ahler $S^3\times S^3$

Abstract

In this paper almost complex surfaces of the nearly K\"ahler $S^3\times S^3$ are studied in a systematic way. We show that on such a surface it is possible to define a global holomorphic differential, which is induced by an almost product structure on the nearly K\"ahler $S^3\times S^3$. We also find a correspondence between almost complex surfaces in the nearly K\"ahler $S^3\times S^3$ and solutions of the general $H$-system equation introduced by Wente, thus obtaining a geometric interpretation of solutions of the general $H$-system equation. From this we deduce a correspondence between constant mean curvature surfaces in $\mathbb R^3$ and almost complex surfaces in the nearly K\"ahler $S^3\times S^3$ with vanishing holomorphic differential. This correspondence allows us to obtain a classification of the totally geodesic almost complex surfaces. Moreover, we will prove that almost complex topological 2-spheres in $S^3\times S^3$ are totally geodesic. Finally, we also show that every almost complex surface with parallel second fundamental form is totally geodesic.