Isometric Embedding for Surfaces: Classical Approaches and Integrability

Abstract

We review classical approaches to the problem of isometrically embedding a Riemannian surface into Euclidean 3-space, including coordinate-based approaches exposited by Darboux and Eisenhart, as well as the moving-frames based approaches advocated by Cartan. In particular, the first approach involves reducing the problem to solving a single PDE; settling the question of when this PDE is integrable by the method of Darboux is the subject of this short note. This is surprisingly easy, since it is related to the analogous question for the isometric embedding system arising from the moving frames approach, and this was accomplished in recent joint work with Clelland, Tehseen and Vassiliou (arXiv:1801.00241).