Legendrian graphs generated by Tangential Families

Abstract

We construct a Legendrian version of Envelope theory. A tangential family is a 1-parameter family of rays emanating tangentially from a smooth plane curve. The Legendrian graph of the family is the union of the Legendrian lifts of the family curves in the projectivized cotangent bundle $PT^*\R^2$. We study the singularities of Legendrian graphs and their stability under small tangential deformations. We also find normal forms of their projections into the plane. This allows to interprete the beaks perestroika as the apparent contour of a deformation of the Double Whitney Umbrella singularity $A_1^\pm$.