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# Convex-concave body in ℝ𝑃³ contains a line

## 1. Introduction

Consider a connected closed hypersurface $`M`$ without a boundary embedded to $`P^n`$. Suppose that the second fundamental form of $`M`$ is everywhere negatively defined. It means that in some affine coordinates in $`P^n`$ the hypersurface is locally defined as $`x_n=x_1^2\mathrm{}x_{n1}^2+\text{higher order terms}`$. A well known theorem claims then that $`M`$ bounds a convex body in $`P^n`$, i. e. doesn’t intersects some hyperplane $`HP^n`$ and bounds a convex body in the affine space $`P^nH`$.

Arnold (in ) conjectured that an analogue of this fact holds for any hypersurface with an everywhere non-degenerate second fundamental form. We will say that a quadratic form in $`^{n1}`$ has signature $`(nk1,k)`$ if its restriction to some $`k`$-dimensional linear subspace is negatively defined and its restriction to some $`nk1`$-dimensional linear subspace is positively defined.

###### Conjecture 1 (Arnold Conjecture).

Consider a domain $`UP^n`$ bounded by a connected smooth hypersurface $`B`$. Suppose that the second fundamental form of $`B`$ is non-degenerate at any point of $`B`$ and has signature $`(nk1,k)`$ (necessarily the same for all points) with respect to the outward normal. Then there exist a projective subspace $`L^k`$ of dimension $`k`$ contained in $`U`$ and a projective subspace $`L^{nk1}`$ of dimension $`nk1`$ not intersecting $`U`$.

###### Example 1.

Domain $`U=\{(x_0,\mathrm{},x_n)P^n|x_0^2+\mathrm{}+x_k^2x_{k+1}^2\mathrm{}x_n^20\}`$, bounded by a quadric, satisfies to the conditions and conclusions of this conjecture.

###### Example 2.

For $`k=n1`$ the conditions imposed on $`B`$ in the conjecture coincide with the conditions of the theorem, and the claim of the conjecture means existence of a hypersurface not intersecting $`U`$ and of an interior point of $`U`$. So for $`k=n1`$ the conjecture follows from the theorem above.

### 1.1. Affine version of the Arnold conjecture

There is an affine version of the Arnold conjecture: in the statement of the conjecture $`P^n`$ is changed to $`^n`$ and projective subspaces to the affine one. We prove it (in ) for surfaces asymptotically approaching to the quadratic cone $`K=\{x_1^2+\mathrm{}+x_k^2x_{k+1}^2\mathrm{}x_n^2=0\}`$ as $`|x_n|+\mathrm{}`$. This condition in particular guarantees the smoothness of the closure of these surfaces after embedding in $`P^n`$.

However, in the case of slightly different asymptotical behavior the claim is wrong already for $`k=1,n=3`$. Consider a union $`K^{}^3`$ of moved apart halves of $`K`$ (e.g. $`K^{}=\{(x,y,z)|x^2+y^2=(|z|1)^2,|z|1\}`$). We construct (in ) an example of a domain in $`^3`$ not containing lines, satisfying conditions of the affine version of Arnold conjecture and which boundary asymptotically, as $`|z|\mathrm{}`$, approaches $`K^{}`$.

However, the closure of such domains in $`P^3`$ will be non-smooth. Moreover, it cannot be made smooth by small perturbation without creating points of degeneracy of the second fundamental form.

### 1.2. $`L`$-convex-concave subsets of $`P^3`$

In this paper we prove the first nontrivial case ($`k=1,n=3`$) of the Arnold conjecture in some additional assumptions. Namely, for any projective subspace $`LP^n`$ we define a class of $`L`$-convex-concave subsets of $`P^n`$.

###### Definition 1.

A closed set $`AP^n`$ is $`L`$-convex-concave if

1. $`AL=\mathrm{}`$,
2. for any projective subspace $`NP^n`$ of dimension $`dimL+1`$ and containing $`L`$ the intersection $`AN`$ is convex,
3. for any projective subspace $`TL`$ of dimension $`dimL1`$ the complement to the image of $`\pi (A)`$ under projection $`\pi :P^nTP^n/T`$ is an open convex set.

In general the boundary of a $`L`$-convex-concave subset of $`P^n`$ need not be smooth, so the class of $`L`$-convex-concave domains is not included into the class of domains described in the Arnold conjecture. However, any $`L`$-convex-concave set after a suitable arbitrarily small perturbation will have a smooth and non-degenerate boundary and will satisfy conditions of the Arnold conjecture.

The inverse inclusion is also wrong: not all domains satisfying the conditions of Arnold conjecture are $`L`$-convex-concave for some $`L`$. The difference is twofold. First, in the very definition of the $`L`$-convex-concave domain we postulate the existence of one of the subspaces whose existence is claimed in the Arnold conjecture. Second, in the definition of $`L`$-convex-concave domains we suppose that all its sections by subspaces containing $`L`$ as a hyperplane are convex, which is a very strong assumption.

An analogue of the Arnold conjecture for $`L`$-convex-concave domains is the following

###### Conjecture 2.

Any $`L`$-convex-concave domain $`AP^n`$ contains a projective subspace of dimension equal to $`ndimL1`$.

In this paper we prove the first nontrivial case of this conjecture:

###### Theorem 1.

Any $`L^1`$-convex-concave set $`AP^3`$, $`dimL^1=1`$, contains a projective line.

### 1.3. Structure of the paper.

The proof of this theorem belongs in fact to the realm of the convex geometry. It heavily exploits the two fundamental theorems of the convex geometry: Helly theorem and the Browder theorem. Proof is partly guided by the general ideology of the Chebyshev best approximation. In particular, one of the key ingredients of the proof is an analogue of the Chebyshev alternance, see Lemma 7 and Theorem 8.

Further we will consider only bodies $`L`$-convex-concave with respect to some fixed once and forever real projective line $`L`$. So we will use the term convex-concave for the $`L`$-convex-concave bodies.

Also, we will use an equivalent definition of a convex-concave set. Namely, in  it is shown that the convex-concave subsets of $`^3`$ can be characterized in the following way.

###### Definition 2.

A body $`𝔹^3`$ is called projective convex-concave with respect to a line $`L`$ (further called infinite line) not intersecting $`𝔹`$ if

* sections of $`𝔹`$ by planes passing through this line (further called horizontal planes) are all convex and
* for any three such horizontal sections through any point of any of them passes a line intersecting two another.

###### Remark 1.

One can define an affine analogue of projective convex-concave sets. Namely, a body $`𝔹^3`$ is called affine convex-concave if, first, its horizontal sections are all convex and, second, for any three horizontal sections through any point of the middle one passes a line intersecting two another.

In  we build a counterexample to an affine version of Arnold conjecture by smoothening a suitable affine convex-concave body.

The proof is organized as follows. In §2 we show that it is enough to prove existence of a line intersecting any five sections of the body, see Theorem 2. This is a standard application of the Helly theorem. From the other hand, using Browder theorem, we prove that for any four sections we can find a line intersecting all of them, see Theorem 4.

Starting from §3 we are dealing with five fixed sections of a convex-concave body. The general idea is simple. Fix an Euclidean metric on some affine cart in $`P^3`$ containing all five sections and take a line closest to these five sections (the Chebyshev line). Our goal is to prove that one can always find a line which lies closer to these five sections, unless the Chebyshev line intersects all five sections.

More exact, in §3 we introduce the Euclidean metric, define the Chebyshev line and prove its basic properties. On planes containing sections arise five half-planes with the property that any line lying closer to five sections than the Chebyshev line should intersect all these half-planes. The opposite is almost true. Namely, any line intersecting these half-planes (further called good deformation) produce a line closer to the sections than the Chebyshev line, see Lemma 5. So all we need to prove is the existence of a line intersecting these five half-planes, which depends on the projective properties of their mutual position only. These properties are the main object of further investigations.

At this stage a split occurs. We impose a condition of genericity on the collection of these half-planes (namely, their boundaries should be pairwise non-parallel) and deal further with non-degenerate cases only. In degenerate cases existence of the good deformation follows from Theorem 4 due to a remarkable self-duality of the condition of $`L`$-convex-concavity, see §3.4 and .

In §4 and §5 we investigate combinatorial properties of a collection of five half-planes corresponding to a Chebyshev line, forgetting for a moment the convex-concavity condition. In other words, we consider a more general problem of properties of a line closest to five convex figures on five parallel planes. This reduces to a purely combinatorial problem about possible arrangements of rooks on a chess board. We find an equivalent of the classical condition of Chebyshev alternance for our situation. Namely, only six possible combinatorial types of collections of half-planes are possible, see Theorem 8.

In §6 for each of these six types we prove existence of a good deformation using the convex-concavity condition. More exact, each of these combinatorial types have some continuous parameters (e.g. distances between sections). If a configuration of half-planes arose from a Chebyshev line, then these parameters should satisfy some inequalities. In other words, only part of the space of parameters corresponds to Chebyshev alternances. It turns out that configurations of half-planes arising from sections of a convex-concave body belong to the complement to this part.

Namely, using the combinatorial properties of each case, we are able to prove existence of a line intersecting four of the half-planes in a some particular sectors. These sectors are chosen in such a way that the line intersecting them should necessarily intersect the fifth half-plane and the existence of a good deformation follows.

## 2. Applications of the Helly theorem and of the Browder theorem

In this section we first introduce a linear structure on the set of all lines not intersecting the line $`L`$. We prove that the Theorem 1 follows from the fact that for any five sections of a convex-concave body there is a line intersecting all of them. Another result claims that for any four sections there is a line intersecting all of them.

### 2.1. Linear structure on the set of all non-horizontal lines

We will call a line non-horizontal if it doesn’t intersect the infinite line. We choose coordinates in a complement to some horizontal plane in such a way that the infinite line lies in the projective plane $`\{z=0\}`$. In these coordinates non-horizontal lines have a parametrization of the type $`x=az+b,y=cz+d`$. This correspondence $`\{`$non-horizontal line$`\}(a,b,c,d)`$ defines coordinates on the set $`𝕌`$ of all non-horizontal lines.

###### Remark 2.

These coordinates are correlated with the affine structure in horizontal planes: intersection of a convex combination of two lines with a horizontal plane is a convex combination (with the same coefficients) of intersections of these two lines with this plane. Therefore the affine structure defined by these coordinates is independent of the choice of coordinates and depends on the choice of the infinite line only (however, the linear structure, i.e. the line with coordinates $`(0,0,0,0)`$ (=$`z`$-axis), can be chosen arbitrarily).

Denote by $`U_t`$ the set of all non-horizontal lines intersecting a horizontal section $`S_t=𝔹\{z=t\}`$ of a projective convex-concave body $`𝔹`$. From the last remark we immediately see that

###### Lemma 1.

$`U_t`$ is closed and is convex in the coordinates introduced above.

The inverse is also true. Namely, for any horizontal plane $`\{z=t\}`$ there is a map $`\varphi _t:𝕌\{z=t\}`$ mapping a non-horizontal line to its point of intersection with this plane.

###### Lemma 2.

This map preserves convexity, i.e the image of a convex set is again a convex set.

### 2.2. Non-horizontal lines and sections of a convex-concave body

#### 2.2.1. Five sections: Helly theorem

###### Theorem 2.

The Theorem 1 follows from the following claim:

$$t_1,t_2,t_3,t_4,t_5\underset{i=1}{\overset{5}{}}U_{t_i}\mathrm{}$$

In other words, it is enough to prove that for any five horizontal sections $`S_i`$ of $`𝔹`$ there exists a line intersecting all of them.

###### Proof.

Indeed, the Theorem 1 is equivalent to $`_tU_t\mathrm{}`$. Since $`U_t`$ are convex subsets of $`U^4`$, the claim is almost a particular case ($`n=4`$) of the classical Helly theorem:

###### Theorem 3 (Helly theorem, see ).

Intersection of a finite family of closed convex sets in $`^n`$ is nonempty if and only if intersection of any $`n+1`$ of them is nonempty.

The only problem is that the family $`U_t`$ is not finite. However, one can circumvent this technicality using the fact that

###### Lemma 3.

Intersection of any two different $`U_t`$ is compact.

Indeed, any line belonging to $`U_{t_1}U_{t_2}`$ is uniquely defined by its points of intersection with these two sections, so $`U_{t_1}U_{t_2}`$ is homeomorphic to $`S_{t_1}\times S_{t_2}`$, which is compact.

So, take a compact $`K=U_1U_0`$ and consider a family of sets $`\stackrel{~}{U}_t=KU_t`$. These sets are relatively open in $`K`$. We want to prove that $`_tU_t\mathrm{}`$. If not, then $`\stackrel{~}{U}_t`$ is a covering of $`K`$, so we can take a finite family of $`\stackrel{~}{U}_{t_i}`$ covering $`K`$. It means that the intersection of a finite family consisting of the corresponding $`U_{t_i}`$ and $`U_1`$ and $`U_0`$ will be empty. This is impossible by Helly theorem if intersection of any five of $`U_t`$ is nonempty. ∎

### 2.3. Four sections: Browder theorem

It turns out that the convex-concavity condition (even the affine one) guarantees existence of a line passing through any four sections. We will prove this in slightly more general assumptions.

###### Theorem 4.

Let $`A,B,C,D`$ be four compact convex non-empty sets in $`^n`$ satisfying the following condition:

1. $`A\{x_n=t_1\},B\{x_n=t_2\},C\{x_n=t_3\},D\{x_n=t_4\}`$, where $`t_i`$ are pairwise different;
2. through any point of $`B`$ passes a line intersecting both $`A`$ and $`C`$, and
3. through any point of $`C`$ passes a line intersecting both $`B`$ and $`D`$.

Then there exists a line intersecting all four bodies.

###### Remark 3.

Here we use only part of conditions provided by convex-concavity.

We will use a Browder theorem — a fixed-point theorem for upper semi-continuous set-valued mappings, see .

Let $`f:XSet(X)`$ be a mapping from $`X`$ to the set of all subsets of $`X`$.

###### Definition 3.

$`f`$ is called upper semi-continuous on $`X`$ if for any $`x_0X`$ and any open set $`G`$ containing $`f(x_0)`$ there exists a neighborhood $`U`$ of $`x_0`$ such that $`f(x)G`$ for all $`xU`$.

###### Remark 4.

For single-valued maps this property means continuity.

Our theorem follows from the following result of Browder:

###### Theorem 5 (see ).

Let $`X`$ be a non-empty compact convex set in a real, locally convex, Hausdorff topological vector space $`E`$. Let $`f`$ be an upper-semicontinuous set-valued mapping defined on $`X`$ such that for each $`xX`$, $`f(x)`$ is a non-empty closed convex subset in $`X`$. Then there exists a point $`\widehat{x}X`$ with $`\widehat{x}f(\widehat{x})`$.

We will apply this theorem to the composition $`f:BCSet(B)`$ of the tautological map $`BCSet(B)`$ and two maps $`h_1:CSet(B)CSet(C)`$ and $`h_2:CSet(C)CSet(B)`$, where $`CSet(B)`$ and $`CSet(C)`$ are sets of all compact convex subsets of $`B`$ and $`C`$ correspondingly. Namely, for $`UB`$ we define $`h_1(U)C`$ as set of all points of $`C`$ which lie on a line intersecting both $`A`$ and $`U`$. Similarly, for $`VC`$ we define $`h_2(V)B`$ as set of all points of $`B`$ which lie on a line intersecting both $`D`$ and $`V`$. These maps are completely defined by their restrictions to the one-point subsets of $`B`$ and $`C`$ correspondingly, namely $`h_i(U)=_{xU}h_i(\{x\})`$.

Check first that our result indeed follows from the Theorem 5. Suppose that $`xf(x)`$. It means that $`xh_2(y)`$ for some point $`yh_1(\{x\})`$. By definition of $`h_i`$ it means that the line passing through $`x`$ and $`y`$ intersects both $`A`$ and $`D`$, q.e.d.

We have to check that $`f(x)`$ satisfies conditions of Theorem 4.

By convex-concavity $`f(x)`$ is non-empty for all $`xB`$.

###### Lemma 4.

$`f(x)=h_2(h_1(\{x\}))`$ is upper semi-continuous.

We will prove that both $`h_1`$ and $`h_2`$ are upper semi-continuous in the sense defined below, and the claim will follow from the fact that the composition of upper semi-continuous maps is again upper semi-continuous. Denote by $`N_\delta (U)=\{x|\mathrm{dist}(x,U)<\delta \}`$ the $`\delta `$-neighborhood of $`U`$.

###### Lemma 5.

Mapping $`h_1`$ is upper semi-continuous in the following sense: for any $`UCSet(B)`$ and any $`ϵ>0`$ there exist a $`\delta >0`$ such that if $`U^{}N_\delta (U)`$ then $`h_1(U^{})G=N_{2ϵ}(h_1(U))`$. The mapping $`h_2`$ is also upper semi-continuous.

###### Proof.

The proof is the same for both $`h_1`$ and $`h_2`$, so we prove it for $`h_1`$ only. By definition $`h_1(U)=_{xU}h_1(\{x\})`$. Therefore by compactness of $`U`$ it is enough to prove that for any $`bB`$ and any $`ϵ>0`$ there is a $`\delta >0`$ such that if $`\mathrm{dist}(b^{},b)<\delta `$ then $`h_1(b^{})N_ϵ(h_1(b))`$.

Note that $`h_1(b)=CA_b`$, where $`A_b`$ is a compact continuously depending on $`b`$ in Hausdorff metric ($`A_b`$ and $`A_b^{}`$ differ by a shift).

The claim follows form the fact that an intersection of a compact with another compact continuously depending on parameters depends upper semi-continuously on parameters. Let’s prove this fact. Let $`V=h_1(b)`$, and $`A_b^{}=A_bN_ϵ(V)`$. Let $`0<\alpha <\mathrm{min}(ϵ,\mathrm{dist}(A_b^{},C))`$. For $`b^{}`$ close enough to $`b`$ we have $`A_b^{}N_\alpha (A_b)`$ and

$$h_1(b^{})=CA_b^{}CN_\alpha (A_b)(CN_\alpha (A_b^{}))(CN_\alpha (N_ϵ(V)))CN_{\alpha +ϵ}(V)G.$$

The second inclusion is true by continuous dependence of $`A_b`$ on $`b`$, the third is true since $`A_bA_b^{}N_ϵ(V)`$, the fourth is true since $`CN_\alpha (A_b^{})=\mathrm{}`$ by choice of $`\alpha `$ and the last one is true since $`\alpha +ϵ<2ϵ`$. ∎

To satisfy the last condition of the Theorem 5 we have to check that $`f(x)`$ is a closed convex subset of $`B`$.

###### Lemma 6.

$`h_i(U)`$ is compact convex set as soon as $`U`$ is compact convex set.

###### Proof.

Indeed, the set of lines intersecting both $`U`$ and $`A`$ is convex (as intersection of two convex closed sets) and compact (since a line is defined by its two points of intersection with $`U`$ and $`A`$, which are both compact), so the set of points of intersections of these lines with $`\{x_n=t_3\}`$ is also convex and compact. But $`h_1(U)`$ is exactly the intersection of this set with $`C`$, so it is also convex and compact. ∎

###### Remark 5.

From a Leray theorem and the previous result we get that the set of non-horizontal lines intersecting at least one of the chosen five sections is homotopically equivalent to a ball or to a sphere according to the existence or nonexistence of a line passing through all five sections. We know that there exist affine convex-concave bodies (see introduction and ) without a line inside, so the case of a sphere is possible. This sphere divides the set of all non-horizontal lines into two connected parts. As a corollary we see that for some five sections of these affine convex-concave body (in our example in  these are just line segments) there is a line not intersecting them which cannot be moved to infinity without intersecting the sections.

## 3. Chebyshev line

By the previous section all we need to prove is that through any five horizontal sections of the convex-concave body passes a line. We fix them from now on. We choose a sixth horizontal plane $`L`$ (not containing sections), choose affine coordinates in $`L^3P^3`$ and, using a standard scalar product, introduce a metric on horizontal planes. Using this metric we define a Chebyshev line — a line minimizing the maximal distance from its point of intersection with a plane of the section to the section. On each plane containing a section we choose a half-plane containing the section with boundary passing through the point of intersection of the Chebyshev line with the plane and perpendicular to the shortest segment joining this point to the section.

In this and the next section we investigate combinatorial conditions imposed on the configuration of these half-planes by the fact that the Chebyshev lines minimizes the maximal distance to the sections.

### 3.1. The Chebyshev line

Denote by $`S_1,S_2,S_3,S_4`$ and $`S_5`$ the five sections of a convex-concave body $`B^3`$ cut by five horizontal planes $`L_i`$, i.e. $`S_i=BL_i`$. Choose coordinates $`(\stackrel{~}{x},\stackrel{~}{y},\stackrel{~}{z},\stackrel{~}{w})`$ in $`^3`$ in such a way that the infinite line has equation $`\stackrel{~}{z}=\stackrel{~}{w}=0`$ and $`S_i\{\stackrel{~}{w}0\}^3`$. We take standard coordinates $`(x=\frac{\stackrel{~}{x}}{\stackrel{~}{w}},y=\frac{\stackrel{~}{y}}{\stackrel{~}{w}},z=\frac{\stackrel{~}{z}}{\stackrel{~}{w}})`$ in $`\{\stackrel{~}{w}0\}^3`$. In these coordinates the planes $`L_i`$ are given by equations $`L_i=\{z=t_i\}`$. We take metric on $`L_i`$ induced by a scalar product

$$((x_1,y_1,z_1),(x_2,y_2,z_2))=x_1x_2+y_1y_2+z_1z_2.$$

Suppose that there is no line intersecting all five sections $`S_i`$ (otherwise there is nothing to prove).

###### Definition 4.

The (non-horizontal) line $`\mathrm{}`$ minimizing the $`\mathrm{max}_{i=1,\mathrm{},5}\mathrm{dist}(\mathrm{}L_i,S_i)`$ (where $`L_i`$ are the horizontal planes containing $`S_i`$) will be called a Chebyshev line.

The existence of this line follows from compactness of sections. Further we will denote $`a_i=\mathrm{}L_i`$ and by $`s_iS_i`$ the point of $`S_i`$ closest to $`a_i`$.

###### Lemma 7 (Chebyshev property).

The $`\mathrm{dist}(a_i,S_i)=\mathrm{dist}(a_i,s_i)`$ are all equal.

###### Proof.

Indeed, let one of them, say $`\mathrm{dist}(a_1,S_1)`$ is strictly smaller than all others. By the Browder theorem Theorem 4 there exists a line $`\mathrm{}_1`$ which intersects all four remaining sections. Therefore for small values of $`ϵ`$ the points of intersections of the line $`\mathrm{}_ϵ=(1ϵ)\mathrm{}+ϵ\mathrm{}_1`$ lies closer to $`S_i`$ than $`a_i`$ for $`i=2,3,4,5`$. From the other hand, $`\mathrm{dist}(\mathrm{}_ϵL_1,S_1)`$ changes continuously with $`ϵ`$. So for small $`ϵ>0`$ we get $`\mathrm{max}_{i=1,\mathrm{},5}\mathrm{dist}(\mathrm{}_ϵL_i,S_i)<\mathrm{max}_{i=1,\mathrm{},5}\mathrm{dist}(a_i,S_i)`$, which contradicts to the Chebyshev property of $`\mathrm{}`$. ∎

###### Corollary 1.

The Chebyshev line $`\mathrm{}`$ doesn’t intersect $`S_i`$ if there is no line intersecting all $`S_i`$.

Further, in order to simplify the notations, we will suppose that the coordinates are chosen in such a way that the Chebyshev line coincides with the $`z`$ axis. Indeed, a linear transformation of the type $`(x,y,z)(x(az+b),y(cz+d),z)`$ doesn’t change metric in horizontal planes, so the Chebyshev line for the shifted sections will be the shifted Chebyshev line. From the other side, using a transformation of this type we can move any non-horizontal line to the $`z`$-axis.

### 3.2. Five half-planes

The Chebyshev condition on the line $`\mathrm{}`$ says that one cannot find five points $`a_i^{}L_i`$ lying on a line and such that $`\mathrm{dist}(a_i^{},S_i)<\mathrm{dist}(\mathrm{}L_i,S_i)`$. Here we describe explicitly what the second requirement means.

For each $`a_i=\mathrm{}L_i`$ we can indicate an angle of desirable directions in $`L_i`$: if $`a_i`$ moves in this direction then the $`\mathrm{dist}(a_i,S_i)`$ decreases. These are directions forming an acute angle with the direction $`\stackrel{}{a_is_i}`$. So arises the half-plane $`H_i=\{xL_i|(\stackrel{}{a_ix},\stackrel{}{a_is_i})0\}`$. The vector $`\stackrel{}{a_is_i}`$ is orthogonal to its boundary and is directed inward.

Another description of $`H_i`$ is as follows: the function $`f(x)=\mathrm{dist}(x,S_i)`$ is a smooth function everywhere on $`L_iS_i`$, so in particular for $`x=a_i`$. After identification of $`T_{a_i}L_i`$ and $`L_i`$ the half-plane $`H_i`$ is described as $`\{df_{a_i}()0\}`$.

We will need further the following evident statement, see Figure 3:

###### Lemma 8.

Let $`H`$ be a half-plane in $`L_1`$ bounded by a line passing through $`a_1`$ and normal to $`\stackrel{}{a_1n}`$. Suppose that $`S_1H`$. Then $`nH_1`$.

### 3.3. Good deformations

Here we describe lines (further called good deformations) whose existence contradicts to the fact that the Chebyshev line $`\mathrm{}`$ doesn’t intersect the sections $`S_i`$ . Our goal from now is to prove their existence.

###### Lemma 9.

If $`\mathrm{}`$ is the Chebychev line for $`S_i`$ and $`H_i`$ are as above, then there exist no line intersecting interiors of all $`H_i`$.

###### Proof.

Suppose there exists a line $`\stackrel{~}{\mathrm{}}`$ intersecting interiors of all $`H_i`$. Then $`z`$-axis cannot be a Chebyshev line since

$$\underset{i}{\mathrm{max}}\mathrm{dist}((ϵ\stackrel{~}{\mathrm{}}+(1ϵ)\mathrm{})L_i,S_i)<\underset{i}{\mathrm{max}}\mathrm{dist}(a_i,S_i)$$

for $`ϵ>0`$ \- small enough. In other words, moving the Chebyshev line in the direction of $`\stackrel{~}{\mathrm{}}`$ in the space of all non-horizontal lines decreases its distance to $`S_i`$.

Indeed, all we have to check is that $`\frac{d}{dϵ}(\mathrm{dist}((ϵ\stackrel{~}{\mathrm{}}+(1ϵ)\mathrm{})L_i,S_i))|_{ϵ=0}<0`$, which follows directly from definitions (of $`H_i`$ and the linear structure on the set of non-horizontal lines). ∎

In fact one can prove a stronger claim.

###### Definition 5 (Good deformation).

A line $`\mathrm{}_1`$ intersecting all $`H_i`$ and interior of at least one of them will be called good deformation.

###### Lemma 10.

If $`\mathrm{}`$ is the Chebychev line for $`S_i`$ and $`H_i`$ are as above, then there exists no good deformation.

###### Proof.

The proof uses the same idea as Lemma 7. Suppose that $`\mathrm{}_1`$ intersects the interior of $`H_1`$ and denote by $`\mathrm{}_{2345}`$ the line intersecting $`S_2,S_3,S_4,S_5`$ (it exists by Theorem 4). Consider the two-parametric family of lines $`\lambda \mathrm{}_1+\mu \mathrm{}_{2345}+(1\lambda \mu )\mathrm{}`$. The idea is that, in linear approximations, moving $`\mathrm{}`$ toward $`\mathrm{}_1`$ decreases distance to $`S_1`$ (while not increasing other distances), and moving $`\mathrm{}`$ toward $`\mathrm{}_{2345}`$ decreases distances to all other sections. So some combination of these two movements decreases the maximal distance from the Chebyshev line to sections, which is impossible.

In other words, denote points of intersection of $`\lambda \mathrm{}_1+\mu \mathrm{}_{2345}+(1\lambda \mu )\mathrm{}`$ with $`L_i`$ by $`b_i^{\lambda ,\mu }`$. Then $`\frac{}{\lambda }|_{\lambda =\mu =0}\mathrm{dist}(b_i^{\lambda ,\mu },S_i)`$ are non-negative for $`i=\mathrm{2.3.4.5}`$ and is strictly positive for $`i=1`$. Also $`\frac{}{\mu }|_{\lambda =\mu =0}\mathrm{dist}(b_i^{\lambda ,\mu },S_i)`$ are strictly positive for $`i=2,3,4,5`$. Therefore for some positive $`c_1,c_2`$ we have $`\frac{}{ϵ}|_{ϵ=0}\mathrm{dist}(b_i^{ϵc_1,ϵc_2},S_i)>0`$ for $`i=1,2,3,4,5`$, i.e. for small $`ϵ>0`$ the line $`ϵc_1\mathrm{}_1+ϵc_2\mathrm{}_{2345}+(1ϵc_1ϵc_2)\mathrm{}`$ is closer to $`S_i`$ than the Chebyshev line \- contradiction. ∎

###### Remark 6.

The use of convex-concave property of the sections is almost unnecessary: any four parallel half-planes with pairwise non-parallel (see below) sides can be intersected by a line, which is as good as $`\mathrm{}_{2345}`$ for the proof.

### 3.4. Degenerate cases

In what follows we will always impose the following genericity assumption on $`H_i`$: we assume that $`H_i`$ are pairwise non-parallel (i.e. do not intersect in $`P^3`$).

For the degenerate cases (with some of the boundaries $`H_i`$ being parallel) the proof of existence of a good deformation is reduced via duality considerations to the Theorem 4, see . This is done in the following way:

1. First, we circumscribe convex polygons $`P_i`$ with $`8`$ sides around $`S_i`$. The sides are tangent to $`S_i`$ and parallel to the boundaries of $`H_i`$.
2. Second, we build the maximal (by inclusion) convex-concave body $`P`$ with sections $`P_i`$. It exists since $`S_i`$ were sections of a convex-concave body. P is the union of all points $`aP^3`$ with the property that through any two $`P_i`$ and the point $`a`$ passes a line.
3. Third, we consider a dual $`\stackrel{~}{P}`$ of $`P`$ with respect to a special duality constructed in . $`\stackrel{~}{P}`$ is also a convex-concave body. Sections of $`\stackrel{~}{P}`$ correspond to projections of $`P`$. We prove that $`\stackrel{~}{P}`$ is constructed from four convex figures in the way described in (2). By Theorem 4 there exists a line intersecting all four of them and therefore this line lies inside $`\stackrel{~}{P}`$.
4. The dual of this line lies inside $`P`$ and therefore intersects all $`P_i`$. Since $`P_iH_i`$, this line is a good deformation.

## 4. Combinatorial properties of half-planes arising from a Chebyshev line

In this and the next chapters we investigate combinatorial properties of mutual position of the five half-planes constructed above. We do not use in this chapter the convex-concavity of the sections $`S_i`$ (so the results are valid for any five convex compact figures lying on five horizontal planes), and use only part of conditions implied by the fact that $`\mathrm{}`$ is the Chebyshev line for $`S_i`$. Namely, we use, first, the absence of lines interior of all $`H_i`$ and intersecting $`\mathrm{}`$, and, second, the genericity assumption of §3.4. We single out six combinatorial types of configurations of half-planes satisfying these two assumptions.

The settings we deal with can be described in projective terms. Namely, in $`P^3`$ we are given a configurations consisting of

1. five different projective planes $`L_i`$, all containing the same line (further called infinite line),
2. five half-planes $`H_iL_i`$ \- parts of these planes - containing convex (with respect to the infinite line) figures $`S_i`$ together satisfying convex-concavity condition. Boundary of each half-plane consists of the infinite line and some other line. The other lines are pairwise nonintersecting by genericity assumption of §3.4;
3. a line $`\mathrm{}`$ intersecting all these other lines and not intersecting the infinite line.

In this chapter we encode combinatorial properties of configurations by a purely combinatorial code, leaving temporarily aside continuous parameters of the problem (like distances between $`L_i`$). This encoding can be done in several ways, so to each configuration correspond several codes. The configurations we need have the property that none of the corresponding codes is trivial. In the next chapter we will see that there are at most six such configurations.

#### 4.0.1. Coding

We will code combinatorial properties of configurations using projections from points $`x\mathrm{}`$ to horizontal planes. As a result we will get a code — a permutation of numbers $`1,2,3,4,5`$ with signs.

The line $`\mathrm{}`$ is an affine part of a projective line $`\stackrel{~}{\mathrm{}}^1𝕊^1`$. This projective line is divided into $`5`$ intervals by its points of intersection with half-planes $`H_i`$. We choose a point $`M\mathrm{}`$ from one of these intervals and orientation on $`\mathrm{}`$. We enumerate the points of intersections of the half-planes with $`\mathrm{}`$ starting from $`M`$ according to the chosen orientation, thus enumerating the half-planes by numbers $`1,2,3,4,5`$.

Consider a projection $`\pi :^3L_ML_1`$ (where $`L_M`$ is the horizontal plane passing through $`M`$). Take an orientation on the circle $`𝕊^1L_1`$ centered at $`a_1=\mathrm{}L_1`$ and a point $`N𝕊^1\pi (H_i)`$. Thus we get an enumeration of the set of $`10`$ points $`𝕊^1(\pi (H_i))`$ (note that by non-degeneracy assumption none of $`H_i`$ are parallel).

We can now write down a sequence of five numbers with signs (further called a code) which will encode the combinatorial properties of the configuration: on the $`i`$-th place of this sequence stands the number of the half-plane which boundary projects onto the $`i`$-th point on $`𝕊^1`$ taken with $`+`$ if the projection contains the point $`N`$ and with $``$ otherwise.

###### Remark 7.

On the figures we denote the boundaries of $`\pi (H_i)`$ by their numbers. The arrows point inward the projections of the corresponding half-planes.

#### 4.0.2. Equivalent codes

In the coding procedure described above we made several choices. As a result we get several codes for the same situation. The resulting classes are in fact orbits of a group acting on the set of all possible codes.

This group is generated by two pairs of generators. The first pair corresponds to the choices made on $`𝕊^1`$.

The first generator, denoted by $`\beta _1`$, corresponds to the moving the point $`N`$ to the previous interval. It acts on the code by cyclic permutation of the numbers and changing the sign of the last element: the $`i`$-th number goes to the $`(i+1)`$-th place except the first one which moves to the fifth place and changes sign, e.g. $`\beta _1(1+2+3+45)=5+1+2+3+4`$.

The second generator, denoted by $`\beta _2`$, corresponds to the change of orientations on the circle. It acts on codes by symmetry: we should put the $`i`$-th number on the $`5i`$-th place preserving the sign (e.g. $`\beta _2(1+2+3+45)=543+2+1+`$).

The second pair corresponds to the choices made on the Chebyshev line $`\mathrm{}`$. In general, changing the position of the center of the projection or the orientation results not only in change of enumeration of half-planes but also in the different choices of the plane to which we project. So in order to describe the effect of moving the point $`M`$ to the next interval or changing the orientation of $`\mathrm{}`$ we have to identify somehow the planes of projections.

The third generator of the group, denoted by $`\alpha _1`$, corresponds to the moving the point $`M`$ to the point $`M^{}`$ in the previous interval. If we identify planes $`L_1`$ and $`L_2`$ using the projections from $`M^{}`$ and make the same (upon this identification) choice of $`N`$ and of the orientation of $`𝕊^1`$, then $`a_1`$ acts on codes by changing $`1+`$ to $`2+`$ , $`2+`$ to $`3+`$, $`3+`$ to $`4+`$, $`4+`$ to $`5+`$, $`5+`$ to $`1`$, …, $`5`$ to $`1+`$ (e.g. $`\alpha _1(1+2+3+45=2+3+4+51+`$). In other words, the numeration shifts by $`1`$ and the image of the fifth (from the $`M`$) half-plane flips.

The fourth generator, denoted by $`\alpha _2`$, corresponds to the change of orientation of $`\mathrm{}`$. After identifying $`L_1`$ and $`L_5`$ by projection from $`M`$ action of $`\alpha _2`$ reduces to the renaming of the planes. So $`\alpha _2`$ acts on codes by interchanging $`5`$ with $`1`$ and $`4`$ with $`2`$ with signs preserved (e.g. $`\alpha _2(1+2+3+45=5+4+3+21`$).

It is easy to see from this geometrical description that $`\alpha _i\beta _j\alpha _i^1\beta _j1=\alpha _1^{10}=\alpha _2^2=\beta _1^{10}=\beta _2^2=\mathrm{Id}`$, $`\alpha _2\alpha _1\alpha _2=\alpha _1^1`$ and $`\beta _2\beta _1\beta _2=\beta _1^1`$, i.e. the group generated by $`\alpha _i`$ and $`\beta _i`$ is $`D_5D_5`$.

### 4.1. Cases of evident good deformation: trivial codes and Chebyshev property

#### 4.1.1. Trivial codes

There are cases (i.e. a combinatorial types of intersections of projections of $`H_i`$) which are forbidden for Chebyshev lines. These are in particular the cases when for some choice of $`M`$, projections of all $`H_i`$ have nontrivial intersection (i.e. more than one point). Indeed, in this case a good deformation which will intersect the Chebyshev line can be easily found.

###### Theorem 6.

Configuration corresponding to a Chebyshev line cannot be coded by a code containing $`1+`$, $`2+`$, $`3+`$ and $`4+`$.

###### Proof.

Suppose first that by choosing a point $`M\mathrm{}`$ and a point $`N𝕊^1`$ we get a code consisting of positive numbers only, i.e a permutation of $`1+`$, $`2+`$, $`3+`$, $`4+`$ and $`5+`$. By definition it means that the line connecting $`M`$ and $`N`$ intersects all $`H_i`$ at their interior, i.e. is a good deformation.

If the code contains $`5`$, then, after applying $`\alpha _1^1`$, we get an equivalent code with positive only entries, thus reducing to the previous case. ∎

#### 4.1.2. Another easy case: the Chebyshev property

The following lemma uses for the first (and the last) time the Euclidean metric. More exact, it uses the definition of $`H_i`$ as the set of all points $`xL_i`$ such that the scalar product $`(\stackrel{}{a_ix},\stackrel{}{a_is_i})`$ is positive (where $`s_iS_i`$ is the point of $`S_i`$ closest to $`a_i`$). We will need this lemma only in the last chapter, when we consider the six nontrivial codes.

###### Theorem 7.

No half-plane $`HL_1`$ such that $`a_1H`$ can contain $`S_1`$, $`\pi (S_2)`$, $`\pi (S_3)`$ and $`\pi (S_4)`$ simultaneously.

###### Proof.

Denote by $`N`$ the endpoint of inward normal $`a_1N`$ to $`H`$.

We are given that $`\pi (S_i)H`$ for $`i=1,2,3,4`$. Therefore $`\pi (s_i)H`$, so, by Lemma 8, $`N\pi (H_i)`$.

If $`N\pi (H_i)`$ then the code corresponding to $`N`$ contains $`1+`$, $`2+`$, $`3+`$ and $`4+`$ and we are done by the previous lemma.

If not, we can slightly move the point $`N`$ and get the same result. Namely, suppose that $`N\pi (H_i)`$ for some $`i`$. Since (by genericity assumption) none of $`\pi (H_i)`$ coincide, $`N`$ cannot lie on more than one $`\pi (H_i)`$. Therefore slightly moving $`N`$ inward this $`\pi (H_i)`$ we get a point $`N^{}`$ corresponding to a code containing $`1+`$, $`2+`$, $`3+`$ and $`4+`$, which is forbidden by the Theorem 6. ∎

###### Remark 8.

This lemma generalizes the following simple geometrical fact:

###### Lemma 11.

There is no half-space $`H^3`$ with the Chebyshev line on its boundary containing all five sections $`S_i`$.

Indeed, in this case in each plane $`L_i`$ we will get a figure like in Lemma 8, so a line obtained from a Chebyshev line by a small parallel translation in the direction of the inward normal to $`H`$ will lie closer to all sections.

## 5. Chess board

In this section we single out all non-trivial codes, i.e. not equivalent to the named in Theorem 6. Though the number of codes is huge (namely $`3840=2^55!`$), there are only six equivalency classes not containing trivial codes. They are listed in the Theorem 8 below.

### 5.1. From a code to a corresponding chessboard

It is easier to visualize codes as a position of five rooks on a $`5\times 5`$ chess board. This is done as follows: in the first column we put the rook in the row which number is equal to the first number in the code. The color of the rook is white if this first number has sign $`+`$ and black otherwise. We continue like this for the second, third, fourth and fifth column (so if we forget the colors, the rooks position is exactly the graph of the permutation given by the code).

It is easy to see that each column or row contains exactly one rook, i.e. the rooks do not threaten each other.

### 5.2. How the symmetry group acts on rooks positions

We described above an action of some symmetry group on codes. In the chess board realization the action of this group is remarkably simple:

* $`\beta _1`$ acts by moving the fifth column to the first place and changes the color of the rook standing in this column;
* $`\alpha _1`$ acts in a similar way but with rows: $`\alpha _1`$ moves the fifth row to the first place and changes the color of the rook standing in this row;
* $`\alpha _2`$ acts by symmetry with respect to the vertical line;
* $`\beta _2`$ acts by symmetry with respect to the horizontal line.

### 5.3. Six equivalence classes consisting of nontrivial arrangements only

The trivial codes correspond to the arrangements of white rooks only, which will be called trivial arrangements. Our goal is to exclude rooks arrangements equivalent to trivial ones. This is done in this subsection by a

###### Lemma 12.

Any arrangement non-equivalent to a trivial case is equivalent to a arrangement with only one black rook. Moreover, this rook can be supposed to stand not on the border of the board.

###### Proof.

Pick any arrangement which is not equivalent to a trivial one. The $`\beta _1^5`$ simply changes all colors to the opposite ones, so we can assume that the number of black rooks is equal to one or two. The first case is what we need, so suppose that there are two black rooks. If one of them stands on the first or the last row, then using $`\alpha _1^{\pm 1}`$ we can change its color without changing the color of others, so leaving only one black rook. Similar statement holds for columns and $`\beta _1`$.

So we can suppose that both black rooks are in the inner $`3\times 3`$ square. Then we get at least two white rooks on the border. Take the fifth row. It contains one rook. Therefore a first or a fifth column should contain another white rook and moving this column and the fifth row (i.e. acting by $`\beta _1\alpha _1`$ or by $`\beta _1^1\alpha _1`$) we arrive to a situation with four black rooks, which is equivalent (by $`\beta _1^5`$) to a situation with one rook only.

This black rook cannot stand on the border since otherwise by one move ($`\alpha _1^{\pm 1}`$ or $`\beta _1^{\pm 1}`$) we arrive to a trivial situation. ∎

Using the symmetries $`\alpha _2`$ and $`\beta _2`$, we can assume that the black rook occupies one of the four squares $`(2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3)`$.

#### 5.3.1. The case $`(2,2)`$

Consider first the case of the black rook on the square $`(2,2)`$.

###### Lemma 13.

If one of the squares $`(1,1),(1,5),(5,1)`$ is occupied, then the position is trivial.

###### Proof.

Indeed, in these cases $`\beta _1^1\alpha _1^2`$ or $`\beta _1^2\alpha _1^1`$ or $`\beta _1\alpha _1^2`$ correspondingly transforms the position to a trivial one. ∎

Therefore in a position not equivalent to a trivial one the white rook of the first column can occupy one of the squares $`(1,3)`$ or $`(1,4)`$ only and the square $`(5,1)`$ is empty.

#### 5.3.2. White on $`(1,3)`$ and Black on $`(2,2)`$

This leaves four configurations:

* $`3+21+4+5+`$
* $`3+21+5+4+`$
* $`3+24+1+5+`$
* $`3+25+1+4+`$

#### 5.3.3. White on $`(1,4)`$ and Black on $`(2,2)`$

These are another four possibilities (remind that $`(5,1)`$ is empty):

* $`4+21+5+3+`$
* $`4+23+1+5+`$
* $`4+25+1+3+`$
* $`4+21+3+5+`$

But D4 becomes trivial after $`\alpha _1^3\beta _1^2`$, and D2 becomes D3 after $`\beta _1^2\alpha _2\beta _2`$. Moreover, after $`\alpha _1^3\beta _1^3`$ C4 becomes D2. So the only new configuration is D5.

#### 5.3.4. Black on $`(2,3)`$

Similarly to Lemma 13, the white rook in the first column cannot stand on the first or the last row. In other words, in a position with black rook on $`(2,3)`$ and not equivalent to a trivial one the squares $`(1,5)`$ and $`(1,1)`$ are empty. Indeed, $`\alpha _1^{\pm 1}\beta _1^2`$ correspondingly trivialize these arrangements.

So the only places the white rook can stand on are $`(1,2)`$ or $`(1,4)`$. These positions are in fact equivalent by $`\alpha _2`$, so we can consider the positions with a white rook on $`(1,4)`$ and the black rook on $`(2,3)`$.

But these positions are equivalent by $`\alpha _2\beta _2\beta _1^2`$ to the positions with the black rook on $`(2,2)`$, so are in fact considered above.

#### 5.3.5. Black on $`(3,2)`$

These arrangements are also equivalent to arrangements with the (only) black rook on $`(2,2)`$. The proof repeats word-by-word the proof above with change of $`\beta `$ to $`\alpha `$ and of $`\alpha `$ to $`\beta `$ everywhere. This is because the actions of the group is symmetric with respect to diagonal (though this symmetry isn’t itself in the group).

#### 5.3.6. Black rook on $`(3,3)`$

The complement of the square to the third row and the third column consists of four two-by-two squares.

###### Lemma 14.

If the arrangement is not equivalent to a trivial one, then each square contains exactly one rook.

###### Proof.

Indeed, if not, then one of them contains two rooks and the opposite should necessarily contain the other two (since in each row and in each column stands exactly one rook). Applying $`\beta _2`$ if necessary, one can suppose that these are the lower left and the upper right squares. Then $`\alpha _1^2\beta _1^3`$ transforms arrangement to a trivial one. ∎

###### Lemma 15.

If one of rooks stands in the corner (i.e. on $`(1,1),(1,5),(5,1)`$ or $`(5,5)`$), then the situation is equivalent to a situation with the only black rook standing on $`(2,2)`$ (i.e. is in fact considered above).

###### Proof.

Using $`\alpha _2`$ and $`\beta _2`$, if necessary, we can suppose that the white rook stands on $`(1,1)`$. Then we get a situation with the only black rook on $`(2,2)`$ after $`\alpha _1^1\beta _1^1`$. ∎

###### Corollary 2.

All configurations with one of white rooks in the inner $`3\times 3`$ square are trivial or have a rook in a corner.

###### Proof.

Suppose that $`(2,2)`$ is occupied and the position is neither trivial nor with a rook in a corner. Then the $`2\times 2`$ square contain one rook each. Then the squares $`(1,4)`$ and $`(4,1)`$ are occupied, since the corners are empty and the second row and second column already contain a rook. Therefore the only remaining square for the fourth rook is in the corner $`(5,5)`$, which is forbidden.∎

The only remaining positions are $`4+1+35+2+`$ and $`2+5+31+4+`$, which are equivalent by $`\alpha _2`$ or $`\beta _2`$.

#### 5.3.7. The final list

It consists of six variants.

###### Theorem 8.

A configuration corresponding to a Chebyshev line should be equivalent to a configuration described by one of the following codes

| C1 $`3+21+4+5+`$ | C2 $`3+21+5+4+`$ | C3 $`3+24+1+5+`$ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| C4 $`3+25+1+4+`$ | D5 $`4+21+3+5+`$ | E6 $`4+1+35+2+`$ |

## 6. Non-triviality of a code and convex-concavity imply existence of good deformation

In this chapter we consider the six nontrivial cases of Theorem 8. Each case has several continuous parameters (e. g. angles between $`H_i`$, distances between $`L_i`$), and only for some choice of parameters the configuration of half-planes arises from a Chebyshev line. In other words, for only part of the parameter space parameterizing this combinatorial type the corresponding configuration of half-planes do not admit a good deformation. Indeed, the Theorem 8 excludes only codes admitting a good deformation intersecting the Chebyshev line $`\mathrm{}`$, and do not deal with good deformations not intersecting $`\mathrm{}`$.

In what follows we show that the configurations of half-planes arising from sections $`S_i`$ of a convex-concave body all admit a good deformation. Therefore they cannot correspond to a Chebyshev line, so the assumption that the Chebyshev line doesn’t intersect the sections leads to a contradiction.

More exact, we extract from the convex-concavity condition some inequality between double ratio of angles between $`H_i`$ and double ratios of distances between $`L_i`$ in some particular combinatorial assumptions. This inequality implies existence of a line intersecting four from half-planes $`H_i`$ in some particular sectors. For five from the six cases of Theorem 8 these assumptions are satisfied, and moreover the resulting line automatically intersects the fifth half-plane. The sixth case E6 simply cannot occur for convex-concave sections.

The main tool in the proofs is the Theorem 4, only applied now to some parts of the sections $`S_i`$. The only Euclidean property we will need is the Theorem 7, which statement is projective. So we can move the center of projection to infinity, and the projection becomes a parallel projection $`\pi :^3L_1`$ along the $`z`$-axis, with $`S_i`$ are ordered by their $`z`$-coordinate.

We will also use a linear structure defined on $`L_1`$ defined by the coordinates $`x`$ and $`y`$ (i.e. we take the point $`a_1`$ as the origin).

### 6.1. Sectorial Browder Theorem

We will denote by $`\pi (H_i)^c`$ for the closure of $`L_1\pi (H_i)`$. We define half-spaces $`B_i=\pi ^1(\pi (H_i))`$ and denote by $`B_i^c`$ the closure of their complements.

###### Theorem 9.

Suppose that

1. $`H_1\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_2)^c`$ and
2. $`\pi (H_3)\pi (H_2)\pi (H_4)^c`$.

Suppose moreover that $`S_1\pi (H_4)^c\mathrm{}`$. Then $`\pi (S_2)\pi (H_3)`$, $`\pi (S_3)\pi (H_2)`$ and $`\pi (S_4)H_1^c`$ are also non-empty and there exists a straight line $`L`$ intersecting $`S_1B_4^c`$, $`S_2B_3`$, $`S_3B_2`$ and $`S_4B_1^c`$.

In our notations the conditions (1) and (2) mean existence of the subsequence $`1+23+4`$ in a sequence coding the configuration. In applications below the condition $`S_1\pi (H_4)^c\mathrm{}`$ will follow from the Lemma 20 below.

###### Proof.

First we prove two combinatorial lemmas:

###### Lemma 16.

$`H_1\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_3)`$

###### Proof.

Suppose that $`H_1\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_3)`$. Since boundaries of the half-planes are pairwise different, there is a point $`x`$ lying in the interior of $`(H_1\pi (H_4)^c)\pi (H_3)`$. Then $`xH_1^c\pi (H_4)\pi (H_3)\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)`$ by assumption and also $`x\pi (H_4)`$ \- contradiction. ∎

###### Lemma 17.

$`\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)\pi (H_1)^c`$

###### Proof.

As before, take $`x`$ in the interior of $`\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)H_1`$. Then $`x\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_1)`$ by the assumption (2) and therefore $`x\pi (H_2)^c`$ by the assumption (1) - contradiction. ∎

Our claim will be proved by applying the Theorem 5 to $`S_1\pi (H_4)^c`$ as $`B`$, $`S_2B_3`$ as $`A`$, $`S_3B_2`$ as $`C`$ and $`S_4B_1^c`$ as $`D`$. Let’s check conditions of Theorem 5. In other words, we have to check that

1. a line passing through $`S_1B_4^c`$ and intersecting $`S_2`$ and $`S_3`$ (existing by convex-concavity) intersects $`S_2B_3`$ and $`S_3B_2`$ and
2. a line passing through $`S_3B_2`$ and intersecting $`S_1`$ and $`S_4`$ (existing by convex-concavity) intersects $`S_4B_1^c`$ and $`S_1B_4^c`$.

(Clearly $`S_1B_4^c`$, $`S_2B_3`$, $`S_3B_2`$ and $`S_4B_1^c`$ are compact and convex).

Let a line intersects $`S_1B_4^c`$ and $`S_2`$ and $`S_3`$ at points $`c_1,c_2`$ and $`c_3`$ accordingly. Necessarily $`c_2`$ lies between $`c_1`$ and $`c_3`$. We know that $`c_1S_1\pi (H_4)^cH_1\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_2)^c\pi (H_3)`$. Since $`c_1,c_3B_3`$, so $`c_2B_3`$ (so $`S_2B_3`$ is non-empty). Similarly, $`c_1B_2^c`$ and $`c_2B_2`$, so $`c_3B_2`$ (and $`S_3B_2`$ is non-empty). So the first claim is proved.

Similarly, let a line intersects $`S_3B_2`$ and $`S_4`$ and $`S_1`$ at points $`c_3,c_4`$ and $`c_1`$ accordingly. As before, $`s_3B_4^cB_1^c`$. Since $`c_4B_4`$ and $`c_3B_4^c`$, so $`c_1S_1\pi (H_4)^c`$. Since $`c_3B_1^c`$, so $`c_4S_4B_1^c`$ (so in particular $`S_4B_1^c`$ is not empty). The second claim follows.

### 6.2. Double ratios

After projecting a configuration satisfying conditions of the Theorem 9 to the plane $`L_1`$ we obtain a figure below.

Here $`L`$ is the projection of the line existing by Theorem 9. By $`A^{},B^{},C^{},D^{}`$ we denote intersections of $`L`$ with $`S_i`$ and by $`A,B,C,D`$ intersections of $`L`$ with $`(\pi (H_i))`$.

The existence of the line $`L`$ implies an inequality between the double ratio of distances between $`L_i`$ and the double ratio of directions of boundaries of $`H_i`$. Namely, denote the double ratio $`\frac{AB}{BD}:\frac{AC}{CD}`$ of points $`A,B,C,D`$ by $`(A,B,C,D)`$. Then $`(A^{}B^{}C^{}D^{})`$ is exactly the double ratio of distances between $`L_i`$:

$$(A,B,C,D)=\frac{h_1}{h_1+h_2}:\frac{h_1+h_2}{h_3},$$

where $`h_i`$ is the distance between $`L_i`$ and $`L_{i+1}`$. $`(A,B,C,D)`$ is the double ratio of directions of $`H_i`$ and the following inequality holds:

###### Corollary 3.

In assumptions of Theorem 9 the double ratio of distances between $`L_i`$ is strictly smaller than the double ratio of directions of $`H_i`$:

$$(A^{},B^{},C^{},D^{})>(A,B,C,D)$$

###### Proof.

Indeed, the configuration of the points $`A^{},B^{},C^{},D^{}`$ is obtained from the points $`ABCD`$ by the movements which only increase the above double ratio:

1. $`(A,B,C,D)<(A^{},B,C,D)`$ since $`\frac{A^{}B}{A^{}C}>\frac{AB}{AC}`$,
2. $`(A^{},B,C,D)<(A^{},B^{},C,D)`$ since $`\frac{A^{}B^{}}{B^{}D}>\frac{A^{}B}{BD}`$,
3. $`(A^{},B^{},C,D)<(A^{},B^{},C^{},D)`$ since $`\frac{C^{}D}{A^{}C^{}}>\frac{CD}{A^{}C}`$,
4. $`(A^{},B^{},C^{},D^{})<(A^{},B^{},C^{},D)`$ since $`\frac{C^{}D^{}}{B^{}D^{}}>\frac{C^{}D}{B^{}D}`$.

The equality is possible only if all points $`A^{},B^{},C^{},D^{}`$ lies on the corresponding lines, which is impossible since, for example, the point $`B^{}`$ lies in $`\pi (S_2)`$ which is included in the interior of the half-plane $`\pi (H_2)`$, so $`B^{}B`$ and the inequality in (2) is strict. ∎

###### Lemma 18.

With conditions as above suppose that four points $`A\mathrm{"},B\mathrm{"},C\mathrm{"},D\mathrm{"}`$ lies on a line $`L^{}`$ and

* $`A\mathrm{"}H_1\pi (H_4)`$
* $`C\mathrm{"}(\pi (H_3))\pi (H_4)`$
* $`D\mathrm{"}(\pi (H_4))H_1`$

Suppose moreover, that $`A\mathrm{"}B\mathrm{"}:B\mathrm{"}C\mathrm{"}:C\mathrm{"}D\mathrm{"}=A^{}B^{}:B^{}C^{}:C^{}D^{}`$. Then $`B\mathrm{"}`$ lies in the interior of $`\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)`$.

###### Proof.

This follows directly from the inequality Lemma 3. Indeed, let $`\overline{B}=L^{}(\pi (H_2))`$. Then $`(A\mathrm{"},\overline{B},C\mathrm{"},D\mathrm{"})=(A,B,C,D)<(A^{},B^{},C^{},D^{})=(A\mathrm{"},B\mathrm{"},C\mathrm{"},D\mathrm{"})`$. This is equivalent to $`\frac{A\mathrm{"}\overline{B}}{\overline{B}D\mathrm{"}}<\frac{A\mathrm{"}B\mathrm{"}}{B\mathrm{"}D\mathrm{"}}`$, which is possible only if $`B\mathrm{"}`$ is between $`\overline{B}`$ and $`D\mathrm{"}`$, i. e. $`B\mathrm{"}\pi (H_2)`$. Since $`B\mathrm{"}[A\mathrm{"}C\mathrm{"}]`$, also $`B\mathrm{"}\pi (H_3)`$. ∎

The Lemma means that the line, which existence is claimed in Theorem 9, can be moved in such a way that it will still intersect the interior of $`H_2`$ and will also intersect boundaries of $`H_1`$, $`H_3`$ and $`H_4`$.

### 6.3. The six non-trivial configurations: contradiction with convex-concavity

We will call by stencil any five points $`c_1,c_2,c_3,c_4,c_5L_1`$ which are projections points of intersections of some line $`lP^3`$ with $`L_i`$, $`c_i=lL_i`$. Note that $`|c_1c_2|:|c_2c_3|:|c_3c_4|:|c_4c_5|`$ is the same for all stencils and is equal to $`h_1:h_2:h_3:h_4`$ where $`h_i`$ are the distances between $`L_i`$ and $`L_{i+1}`$. Evidently this is a necessary and sufficient condition for five points in $`L_1`$ lying on a line in this order to be a projection of points of intersection of some line in $`P^3`$ with the planes $`L_i`$.

A projection of a good deformation is a stencil with an additional property $`c_i\pi (H_i)`$, with at least one of $`c_i`$ lying in the interior of $`\pi (H_i)`$. Vice versa, any such stencil is a projection of a good deformation.

We can reformulate the Lemma 18 using these notations.

###### Lemma 19.

Suppose that

1. $`H_1\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_2)^c`$,
2. $`\pi (H_3)\pi (H_2)\pi (H_4)^c`$ and
3. $`S_1\pi (H_4)^c\mathrm{}`$.

Then there exists a stencil such that

1. $`c_1H_1\pi (H_4)^c`$,
2. $`c_2`$ lies in the interior of $`\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)`$,
3. $`c_3\pi (H_3)\pi (H_4)^c`$ and
4. $`c_4\pi (H_4)\pi (H_1)^c`$.

Similar statements hold for all strictly increasing subsequence of $`12345`$ consisting of four numbers (i. e. 1245 or 1345 etc. instead 1234).

#### 6.3.1. Chebyshev property

Here we prove that one of consequences of the Chebyshev property formulated in Lemma 7 is that the set $`S_1\pi (H_4)^c`$ in Lemma 18 is never empty.

###### Lemma 20.

If $`S_1\pi (H_4)`$ or $`S_1\pi (H_5)`$ then the configuration is trivial.

###### Proof.

Indeed, in the first case $`\pi (S_2)`$ and $`\pi (S_3)`$ also lie in $`\pi (H_4)`$ by convex-concavity. Indeed, any point of $`S_2`$ lies on a segment with endpoints on $`S_1`$ and $`S_4`$, and projection of such a segment lies entirely in $`\pi (H_4)`$. The same is true for $`S_3`$, so by Lemma 7 the configuration is trivial. In the second case $`S_i\pi (H_5)`$ for $`i=1,2,3,4,5`$ and again by Lemma 7 the configuration is trivial. ∎

In cases C1, C3, C4 and D5 the Lemma 19 and the Lemma 20 give immediately existence of a stencil which is a projection of a good deformation.

#### 6.3.2. The C1 case

This is the case $`3+21+4+5+`$. We will consider an equivalent (after $`\beta _1^2\beta _2`$) variant $`1+23+54`$.

If $`S_1\pi (H_4)=\mathrm{}`$ then the configuration is trivial by Lemma 20. So $`S_1\pi (H_4)\mathrm{}`$ and the Lemma 19 is applicable to the subsequence $`1+23+4`$ of the code.

In the resulting stencil $`c_4\pi (H_5)`$ and $`c_1\pi (H_5)`$. Indeed, the sector $`H_1\pi (H_4)^c`$ is the smallest sector bounded by boundaries of half-planes and containing the point $`N`$. Since $`N\pi (H_5)`$, so $`H_1\pi (H_4)^c\pi (H_5)=\mathrm{}`$. This means that $`c_4,c_1\pi (H_5)`$.

Therefore the point $`c_5`$ of the stencil lies in $`\pi (H_5)`$. Therefore the line projecting to this stencil is a good deformation.

#### 6.3.3. The C3 case

This is the case of $`3+24+1+5+`$. We will consider the equivalent (after $`\beta _2\alpha _1^6`$) case of $`1+253+4`$.

As above, $`S_1\pi (H_4)`$ by Lemma 20, so we can apply the Lemma 19 to the the subsequence $`1+23+4`$ of the code, exactly as in the case C1. As before, $`c_1`$ lies on $`H_1\pi (H_4)^c`$ and therefore in $`\pi (H_5)^c`$. Also, $`c_4\pi (H_4)H_1^c`$ and therefore $`c_4\pi (H_5)`$. So $`c_5`$ also lies in $`\pi (H_5)`$ since $`c_5`$ and $`c_1`$ lie from different sides of $`c_4`$. Therefore the stencil given by Lemma 19 is a projection of a good deformation.

#### 6.3.4. The C4 case

This is the case of $`3+25+1+4+`$. We will consider the equivalent (after $`b_1^2b_2a_1^1`$) case of $`1+23+54+`$.

As before, by Lemma 20, $`S_1B_5`$. We apply Lemma 19 to the subsequence $`1+23+5`$ and get a stencil with $`c_1H_1\pi (H_5)^c`$, $`c_2\pi (H_2)`$, $`c_3\pi (H_3)\pi (H_5)^c`$ and $`c_5\pi (H_5)H_1^c`$. Then $`c_4\pi (H_4)`$. Indeed, $`c_1,c_5\pi (H_4)`$ and $`c_4`$ lies between $`c_1`$ and $`c_5`$. So this stencil is a projection of a good deformation.

#### 6.3.5. The D5 case

This is the case of $`4+21+3+5+`$. It is equivalent (after $`a_1^6b_2`$) to the case $`1+423+5`$.

Again, $`S_1B_5`$ by Lemma 20. We apply Lemma 19 to the subsequence $`1+23+5`$ and get a stencil with $`c_1H_1\pi (H_5)^c`$, $`c_2\pi (H_2)`$, $`c_3\pi (H_3)\pi (H_5)^c`$ and $`c_5\pi (H_5)H_1^c`$. Now $`c_4\pi (H_4)`$ follows from the fact that $`c_3,c_5\pi (H_4)`$ and $`c_4`$ lies between $`c_3`$ and $`c_5`$. So this stencil is a projection of a good deformation.

In two last cases we should exhibit a little more inventiveness.

The case C2 requires double application of the Lemma 19, whereas in E6 the combinatorial properties of the intersections contradict to the Theorem 9.

#### 6.3.6. The C2 case

This is the case of $`3+21+5+4+`$. After applying $`\alpha _1^3\beta _1\beta _2`$ it will transform to an equivalent variant $`1+234+5`$.

By Lemma 20 $`S_1\pi (H_5)^c\mathrm{}`$. Applying Lemma 19 to the sequences $`1+24+5`$ and $`1+34+5`$ we see that there are two stencils, one with points $`c_1c_2c_3c_4c_5`$ and another with points $`c_1^{}c_2^{}c_3^{}c_4^{}c_5^{}`$, such that the following conditions hold

1. $`c_1,c_1^{}H_1\pi (H_5)^c`$,
2. $`c_2\pi (H_2)\pi (H_4)`$,
3. $`c_3^{}\pi (H_3)\pi (H_4)`$,
4. $`c_4,c_4^{}\pi (H_4)\pi (H_5)^c`$ and
5. $`c_5,c_5^{}\pi (H_5)\pi (H_1)^c`$.

But any two stencils satisfying (1), (4) and (5) differ only by a dilatation centered at the origin and these dilatations preserve $`\pi (H_i)`$. So $`c_3\pi (H_3)\pi (H_4)`$ and we get the stencil which is a projection of a good deformation.

#### 6.3.7. The E6 case

This is the case of $`4+1+35+2+`$. It is equivalent (by $`\beta _1^4`$) to $`13+524+`$. Recall that $`B_i=\pi ^1(H_i)`$.

Suppose first that $`S_1\pi (H_3)\mathrm{}`$. Similar to the proof of the Theorem 9, we will apply the Theorem 4 to $`S_1\pi (H_3)`$ as $`B`$, $`S_4B_2`$ as $`C`$ and $`S_2`$ and $`S_3`$ as $`A`$ and $`D`$ correspondingly and will arrive to contradiction.

Construct two mappings, $`h_1:CSet(S_1B_3)CSet(S_4B_2)`$ and $`h_2:CSet(S_4B_2)CSet(S_1B_3)`$, as in Namely, take a point $`bS_1B_3`$. There is a line passing through this point and section $`S_2`$ and intersecting the section $`S_4`$ at point $`c`$. Since $`\pi (b)\pi (S_1)\pi (H_3)\pi (H_2)^c`$ and evidently $`\pi (S_2)\pi (H_2)`$, we conclude that $`\pi (c)\pi (S_4)\pi (H_2)`$, i.e. $`cS_4\pi (H_2)`$. The mapping $`h_1`$ is the extension to the closed subsets of $`S_1B_3`$ of the mapping sending the points $`a`$ to the set of all such $`c`$. Similarly, to define $`h_2`$ take any point $`cS_4B_2`$. There is a line passing through this point and intersecting the section $`S_3`$ and the section $`S_1`$ at a point $`a`$. Since $`\pi (c)\pi (H_4)\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)^c`$ and $`\pi (S_3)\pi (H_3)`$, we get that $`aS_1B_3`$.

In virtue of the Theorem 4 this proves existence of a line intersecting $`S_1\pi (H_3)`$, $`S_2`$, $`S_3`$ and $`S_4B_2`$.

But this line cannot exist. Indeed, denoting the projections of the intersection points by $`c_1c_2c_3c_4`$ we see that $`c_2,c_4\pi (H_4)\pi (H_2)\pi (H_3)^c`$ and therefore the point $`c_3`$ – lying between $`c_2`$ and $`c_4`$ – should also belong to $`B_3^c`$, which contradicts to $`c_3\pi (H_3)`$.

Therefore $`S_1\pi (H_3)^c`$. By convex-concavity we get that $`\pi (S_4),\pi (H_5)\pi (H_3)`$ (any point of these sections is an endpoint of a segment intersecting $`S_3`$ with another endpoint in $`S_1`$). Therefore $`\pi (S_5)\pi (H_5)\pi (H_3)\pi (H_2)`$ and $`\pi (S_4)\pi (H_4)\pi (H_3)\pi (H_2)^c`$.

This is incompatible with the existence of lines joining $`S_5,S_4`$ and $`S_2`$ given by convex-concavity condition. Indeed, take any segment intersecting $`S_2,S_4`$ and $`S_5`$ at points $`s_2`$, $`s_4`$ and $`s_5`$ correspondingly. Its projection $`[\pi (s_2),\pi (s_5)]`$ has both ends in $`\pi (H_2)`$, so $`\pi (s_4)\pi (H_2)`$ as well, which contradicts to $`\pi (s_4)\pi (S_4)\pi (H_2)^c`$.


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# 1 Introduction

## 1 Introduction

If string theory provides us with a quantum theory of gravity, it is natural to study the propagation of strings in time dependent backgrounds. Some of the easiest models one can think of are constructed as lorentzian orbifolds of Minkowski spacetime. These have recently received considerable attention . See also  for related work. The purpose of this work is to analyse the geometry of Minkowski spacetime modded out by a null rotation, what one may call null orbifold. One can look at this quotient space as some intermediate case between modding out by a rotation and modding out by a boost, which is still singular, but preserves one half of the spacetime supersymmetries. This set up was already considered in , and also in the context of twisting the N=2 string .

The first, and original, motivation for the present work was provided by the cosmological scenario presented in . They found a classical solution to Einstein equations coupled to a single scalar field subject to no potential with two branches. The first branch ($`t<0`$) describes a contracting universe, whereas the second one ($`t>0`$), an expanding universe. They are connected through a singularity at $`t=0`$, where the Planck scale vanishes and the general relativity description breaks down. When embedded in string theory, the limit $`t0`$ corresponds to a weak coupling regime, and the vanishing of the Planck scale tells us that higher dimensional operators become important as $`t0`$. Thus, a perturbative worldsheet description is appropiate and reliable near the singularity. A fascinating remark was also given in  in order to deal with such a worldsheet description. It was stated there that the d-dimensional configuration could be understood as simply $`\text{}^{d1}\times ^2`$ where $`^2`$ is the two dimensional Milne universe. The fact that $`^2`$ can be understood as the quotient of the interior of the past and future light cones by the action of the group  generated by a boost suggests that the two dimensional worldsheet field theory might be that of a lorentzian orbifold of Minkowski spacetime. This possibility has been recently studied in . In , a possible resolution of the lorentzian orbifold by adding a transverse compact spacelike circle was also considered.

Motivated by the above construction, we shall look for a spacetime geometry that can be thought of Minkowski spacetime modded out by the action of some vector field acting non-trivially on time, such that the quotient manifold remains supersymmetric (modding out by a boost breaks supersymmetry completely) and has no closed timelike curves (CTCs). It turns out such a spacetime geometry is unique 111The possibility of a compact timelike direction $`(\xi =_t)`$ or adding further transverse rotations to $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$ are not considered in this paper. : it corresponds to Minkowski spacetime in three dimensions modded out by a null rotation. A null rotation in the $`x^1`$ direction is infinitesimally generated by the Killing vector

$$\xi _{\text{null}}=B_{01}\pm R_{12}=x^0_1+x^1_0\pm \left(x^1_2x^2_1\right),$$

so that it consists of a boost in the $`x^1`$ direction plus a rotation in the 12-plane such that both the rapidity of the boost and the angle of the rotation have the same norm. Thus, as stressed before, this is a particular modding in the family parametrised by $`\xi =\alpha B_{01}+\beta R_{12}`$. Whenever $`|\beta |>|\alpha |`$, there always exists a Lorentz transformation such that $`\xi =R_{12}`$, whereas when $`|\alpha |>|\beta |`$, this freedom under conjugations allows us to write $`\xi =B_{01}`$. The norm of the Killing vector $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$ vanishes at $`x^{}=0`$, where our quotient manifold is even not Hausdorff, due to the existence of fixed points $`(x^{}=x^1=0)`$. For $`x^{}0`$, the spacetime looks like a strip of length proportional to $`|x^{}|`$ with boundaries satisfying non-trivial identification conditions. This geometry and the absence of CTCs are discussed in section 2. Notice that the existence of a covariantly constant null vector in this spacetime does not allow us to view the singularity at $`x^{}=0`$ as formed to the future of a non-singular surface. In that respect, it looks closer to a singular wave solution .

The fact that our modding involves both boosts and rotations raises the question whether the above spacetime geometry is related, in some way, with the BTZ black hole . This is discussed in section 3, where it is shown that under a double scaling limit, the BTZ geometry reduces to the null rotation geometry.

The second motivation for this work was to understand the geometry behind the nullbrane solution found in . Nullbranes were obtained by Kaluza-Klein reduction along the orbits of the Killing vector

$$\xi =R_z+\xi _{\text{null}},$$

where $`z`$ stands for a compact transverse spacelike coordinate of length $`R`$. Since $`|\xi |>0`$ everywhere and it has no fixed points, such a spacetime modding constitutes one possible way of resolving the singularity found in the null rotation geometry. It is indeed proved that such spacetime has no closed causal curves. This is discussed in section 4, where we also include the singular ten dimensional configuration, the so called dilatonic wave, whose uplift to eleven dimensions can be interpreted as the null rotation geometry. Some comments concerning the duality relations among nullbranes and dilatonic waves are also considered. We conclude with some extensions of the construction presented in this paper to curved backgrounds, trying to emphasize the universality of this new sector in string theory.

Note added. When this work was being completed, we learnt of some work in progress  in which the same model is analysed.

## 2 Null rotation identifications

Given a Minkowskian spacetime in d+1 dimensions, any one parameter subgroup generated by a Killing vector $`\xi `$ acting on this space

$$\text{P}e^\xi \text{P}$$

defines a quotient space by identifying points along its orbit. In the present case, $`\xi `$ can be decomposed as

$$\xi =\tau +\lambda ,$$

where $`\tau 𝔱=\text{}^{1,d}`$ is a translation and $`\lambda 𝔩=𝔰𝔬(1,d)`$ is a Lorentz transformation. By conjugating with a Lorentz transformation one can bring $`\lambda `$ to a normal form. Since we are just interested in one parameter subgroups acting non-trivially on time, one is left with two possiblities

$`\lambda `$ $`=B_{01}(\gamma )+R_{}(\beta )`$
$`\lambda `$ $`=N_{+1}(u)+R_{}(\beta ),`$
where $`B_{01}(\gamma )`$ is an infinitesimal boost with parameter $`\gamma `$ along direction $`1`$, $`N_{+1}(u)B_{01}(u)\pm R_{12}(u)`$ is a null rotation with parameter $`u`$ in the direction 1 and $`R`$ stands for rotations. In the following, we shall not consider the possibility of rotating in the transverse directions $`(\beta =0)`$.

Preservation of supersymmetry excludes boosts and selects null rotations. This can be easily proved by studying how Killing vectors $`\xi `$ act on Killing spinors $`\epsilon `$ through the spinorial Lie derivative

$$_\xi \epsilon =_\xi \epsilon +\frac{1}{4}_{[a}\xi _{b]}\mathrm{\Gamma }^{ab}\epsilon .$$

There is a second possibility for acting non-trivially on time while preserving full supersymmetry, which is by considering a time translation, $`\xi =\tau =_t`$, but since we are not willing to consider compact time directions, we shall concentrate on null rotation identifications, which preserve one half of the supersymmetries.

### 2.1 Geometry

One way to describe the geometry of the null rotation identifications is by fibering the original spacetime with the orbits of the associated Killing vector and studying the effects of the identifications in this adapted coordinate system. The orbits are given by

$`x^{}(s)`$ $`=x_0^{}`$ (1)
$`x^+(s)`$ $`=x_0^++2x_0^1s+x_0^{}s^2`$
$`x^1(s)`$ $`=x_0^1+x_0^{}s`$
where $`x_0^i`$ are initial conditions, $`s`$ is the affine parameter of the orbit and $`x^\pm =x^0\pm x^2`$ are lightlike coordinates. Notice that the line located at $`x^{}=x^1=0`$ is a line of fixed points.

There are two reasons why to study sections of spacetime with constant $`x^{}`$. First of all, $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$ does not act on $`x^{}`$. Furthermore, the norm of the Killing vector, $`|\xi _{\text{null}}|^2=(x^{})^2`$, teaches us to consider either $`x^{}0`$ or $`x^{}=0`$. This is precisely what we shall do next.

Let us start on the region where $`x^{}0`$. The plane spanned by $`\{x^+,x^1\}`$ is fibered by $`\{s,x_0^+\}`$, since as we vary $`x_0^+`$ and move along the fiber $`(s)`$ one covers the full subspace. We are interested in the geometry of spacetime when non-trivial identifications are set along the orbits (1), that is

$$ss+\beta ,$$

for some dimensionless parameter $`\beta `$. The first consequence of such an identification is that spacetime becomes a strip of length $`L=x^{}\beta `$ along the $`x^1`$ direction. We shall use the freedom to locate the strip to set $`x_0^1`$ to zero. The $`x^+`$ direction remains a non-compact one, but due to the parabolic nature of $`x^+(s)`$, the boundaries of the forementioned strip satisfy non-trivial identification conditions. Indeed, the point $`P(x_0^+,0)`$ is identified with $`Q(x_0^++L\beta ,L)`$

$$P(x_0^+,0)(x_0^++L\beta ,L)Qx_0^+.$$

This geometry is illustrated in figures 1 and 2 for $`x^{}>0`$ and $`x^{}<0`$, respectively.

As $`|x^{}|`$ decreases, the paraboles start degenerating and the strip shrinks. In fact, the limit $`x^{}0`$ is singular, as can be seen from different points of view. First of all, the space at $`x^{}=0`$ is not Haussdorf, due to the existence of fixed points. Its fibering is no longer given in terms of $`\{s,x_0^+\}`$, but in terms of $`\{s,x_0^1\}`$. This can be easily derived from the orbits (1). Indeed, $`x^1`$ is left invariant at $`x^{}=0`$, thus it remains non-compact in that subspace. On the other hand, the previous paraboles degenerate into a line of fixed points located at $`x^1=0`$. Away from $`x^1=0`$, one is left with $`\text{}^2`$ where points $`P(x_0^+,x_0^1)`$ are identified with points $`Q(x_0^++2x_0^1\beta ,x_0^1)`$

$$P(x_0^+,x_0^1)(x_0^++2x_0^1\beta ,x_0^1)Qx_0^10.$$

The geometry of the $`x^{}=0`$ subspace is illustrated in figure 3.

One is thus left with two regions of spacetime ($`x^{}>0`$ and $`x^{}<0`$) connected through $`x^{}=0`$, where the quotient space is not even a Haussdorf space. In the next subsection, we shall analytically prove the existence of closed null curves. These can easily be guessed by looking at figure 3 and considering the null curves (dashed line on the figure),

$$x^{}=0,x^1=\text{constant}$$

connecting points P and Q which are identified by the action of the $`\mathrm{U}(1)`$ subgroup generated by $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$. Thus, at $`x^{}=0`$, spacetime has also causal singularities.

At this stage, one can just remove $`x^{}=0`$ from spacetime, leaving two disconnected regions with no causal singularities. A more sensible possibility is to embed such scenario in string theory and analyse whether the twisted sectors located at $`x^{}=0`$ manage to resolve such singularity. A further possibility to smooth it is to modify the action of the $`\mathrm{U}(1)`$ subgroup by adding a transverse compact spacelike direction

$$\xi =\xi _{\text{null}}R_z+\xi _{\text{null}}.$$

We postpone the discussion of such a resolution until we embed this geometry in string theory in section 4.

### 2.2 Closed causal curves

A necessary condition for the absence of closed causal curves in quotient spaces of the type discussed above is that the norm of the Killing vector generating the $`\mathrm{U}(1)`$ subgroup action is strictly positive. Such a property is not satisfied by $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$, thus closed null curves are expected at $`x^{}=0`$, as already stressed before. The question we would like to address is the non-existence of closed causal curves for $`x^{}0`$. This is non-trivial, because the forementioned criterium is not a sufficient condition.

The proof uses an adapted coordinate system $`\{t,x,y\}`$ to the action of $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$ ($`\xi _{\text{null}}=_y`$) which is valid for $`x^{}0`$, the subspace we are interested in. This coordinate system is defined by

$`x^{}`$ $`=t+x`$ (2)
$`x^+`$ $`=tx+(t+x)y^2`$
$`x^1`$ $`=(t+x)y,`$
in which the three dimensional metric can be written as

$$g=(dt)^2+(dx)^2+(t+x)^2(dy)^2.$$
(3)
We want to show there is no causal curve $`x^M(\lambda )`$, i.e. $`\frac{dx^M}{d\lambda }\frac{dx^N}{d\lambda }g_{MN}(x)0`$ $`\lambda `$, connecting the points $`(t_0,x_0,y_0)`$ and $`(t_0,x_0,y_0+\beta )`$. If we assume that such a curve exists, there must necessarily exist one value of the affine parameter $`\lambda =\lambda ^{}`$ where $`\frac{dt}{d\lambda }`$ vanishes

$$\lambda =\lambda ^{}\text{s.t.}\left(\frac{dt}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}=0.$$

The norm of the tangent vector to $`x^M(\lambda )`$ at $`\lambda =\lambda ^{}`$ is

$$\left(\frac{dx}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}^2+(t+x)^2(\lambda ^{})\left(\frac{dy}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}^20.$$

Such an inequality can never be satisfied for a timelike curve, so no closed timelike curves exist. On the other hand, the norm vanishes when

$$\left(\frac{dx}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}=\left(\frac{dy}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}=0,$$

since we are away from $`t+x=0`$. Thus, at $`\lambda =\lambda ^{}`$, the tangent vector to the causal curve vanishes identically, which contradicts $`\lambda `$ being an affine parameter. We conclude that closed causal curves are not allowed when $`t+x=x^{}0`$.

## 3 Relation with the BTZ black hole

The BTZ black hole line element  is given by

$$g_{(3)}=f^2(r)(dt)^2+f^2(r)(dr)^2+r^2\left[d\varphi \frac{J}{2r^2}dt\right]^2,$$
(4)
the lapse function being defined by

$$f^2(r)=M+\left(\frac{r}{l}\right)^2+\frac{J^2}{4r^2},$$

where M and J are two constants of integration which are identified as the mass and angular momentum.

This is a solution to Einstein field equations in three dimensions with negative cosmological constant $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ related to the radius of curvature through $`\mathrm{\Lambda }=l^2`$. The lapse function vanishes for two values of $`r`$ given by

$$r_\pm =l\left[\frac{M}{2}\left\{1\pm \left[1\left(\frac{J}{Ml}\right)^2\right]^{1/2}\right\}\right]^{1/2},$$
(5)
whereas $`g_{tt}`$ vanishes at

$$r_{\text{erg}}=lM^{1/2}.$$

These three special values of $`r`$ obey

$$r_{}r_+r_{\text{erg}}.$$

As it happens in 3+1 dimensions for the Kerr metric, $`r_+`$ is the black hole horizon, $`r_{\text{erg}}`$ is the surface of infinite redshift, and the region between $`r_+`$ and $`r_{\text{erg}}`$ is the ergosphere. The solution describes a black hole whenever

$$M>0,|J|Ml.$$

Besides the continuous black hole spectrum above the vacuum (M=J=0), there is a sort of “bound state” space separated from the vacuum by a mass gap of one unit (M=-1 and J=0), which can not be continuously deformed to the vacuum and has neither singularities nor horizon. This is anti-de Sitter space, which can be defined in terms of its embedding in a four-dimensional flat space of signature $`(++)`$

$$g_{(4)}=(du)^2(dv)^2+(dx)^2+(dy)^2$$

through the equation

$$v^2u^2+x^2+y^2=l^2.$$

A system of coordinates covering the whole manifold may be introduced by setting

$`u`$ $`=l\mathrm{cosh}\mu \mathrm{sin}\lambda ,v=l\mathrm{cosh}\mu \mathrm{cos}\lambda 0\mu <\mathrm{}`$ (6)
$`x`$ $`=l\mathrm{sinh}\mu \mathrm{cos}\theta ,y=l\mathrm{sinh}\mu \mathrm{sin}\theta 0\lambda ,2\pi `$
which yields

$$g_{\text{adS}}=l^2\left[\mathrm{cosh}^2\mu (d\lambda )^2+(d\mu )^2+\mathrm{sinh}^2\mu (d\theta )^2\right].$$
(7)
Notice that strictly speaking, by an abuse of language, one refers to anti-de Sitter space to its universal covering space, the one in which the angular coordinate $`\lambda `$ has been “unwrapped”, to avoid the existence of closed timelike curves (CTCs).

By construction, the anti-de Sitter metric is invariant under $`\mathrm{SO}(2,2)`$. The Killing vectors generating $`𝔰𝔬(2,2)`$ are explicitly given below for later reference

$`J_{01}`$ $`=v_uu_v,J_{02}=x_v+v_x,`$ (8)
$`J_{03}`$ $`=y_v+v_y,J_{12}=x_u+u_x,`$
$`J_{13}`$ $`=y_u+u_y,J_{23}=y_xx_y.`$
It was shown in  that (4) can be obtained by making identifications along the orbits generated by the Killing vector

$$\xi _{\text{BTZ}}=\frac{r_+}{l}J_{12}\frac{r_{}}{l}J_{03}J_{13}+J_{23}.$$
(9)
The latter contains boosts and rotations, so it is rather natural to ask whether there is some relation between the null rotation identification space and the BTZ black hole. It will be proved that the former appears as a double scaling limit of the latter 222The author would like to thank Y. Antebi and T. Volansky for discussions on this point..

Just by looking at the construction of both spaces, the strategy of the proof emerges naturally. Both spaces are constructed by modding out an starting spacetime by the action of a certain one dimensional subgroup generated by a given Killing vector. Thus, if one establishes a precise map between the starting configurations and the Killing vectors used in the modding, the relation among both quotient spaces will have been established.

The starting configurations are maximally symmetric spaces of vanishing and negative cosmological constant, respectively. It is thus a necessary condition, but not sufficient, to study the limit $`l\mathrm{}`$, in which one is just left with the inside of the black hole (the exterior is pushed away to infinity). If one further concentrates on a region pretty close to the origin of spacetime by considering the double scaling limit

$$\lambda \frac{t}{l},\mu \frac{r}{l},l\mathrm{}$$
(10)
it is easy to check that the anti-de Sitter metric is mapped into the Minkowski metric and the Lie algebra $`𝔰𝔬(2,2)`$ contracts to $`𝔰𝔬(1,2)\text{}^{1,2}`$.

Notice that the radial coordinate $`r=l\mathrm{sinh}\mu `$ in the BTZ black hole metric (4) does not scale in the limit. This means that if $`lϵ^a`$ ($`a>0`$), in the limit $`ϵ0`$

$$r_\pm \text{fixed},Mϵ^{2a},Jϵ^a.$$
(11)
Thus, the double scaling limit relating both maximally symmetric spaces enforces the mass and angular momentum to vanish, keeping $`r_\pm `$ fixed. Since the black hole interpretation disappears, $`r_+`$ no longer corresponds to a horizon.

When one analyses the Killing vector (9) in the double scaling limit (10) and (11), it reduces to

$$\xi _{\text{BTZ}}r_{}_yB_{0y}+R_{yx},$$

which is equivalent to the one used in the null rotation construction. Indeed, just by a orientation reversal discrete transformation $`(xx,yy)`$ and by a change of origin (conjugation under translations)

$$\xi _{\text{BTZ}}N_{+y}=\xi _{\text{null}}.$$
(12)
## 4 Embedding in String/M-theory

It is straightforward to embed the previous three dimensional geometry in string theory and M-theory. One just needs to consider the maximally supersymmetric flat vacua of these theories and construct the quotient space by identifying points along the orbit of $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$. As discussed in section 2, such a quotient spacetime will be supersymmetric. In this section, we shall concentrate on this construction for M-theory and type IIA string theory, even though it can just as well be applied to type IIB. We shall first look for some ten dimensional singular spacetime, whose uplift to M-theory can be interpreted as the corresponding scenario described in section 2 when embedded in M-theory. Afterwards, we shall comment on a possible resolution of the singularity by adding an extra compact spacelike dimension transverse to the action of the null rotation. It will be proved that the corresponding quotient spacetime has no closed causal curves, and that the corresponding ten dimensional geometry is the nullbrane supersymmetric configuration found in . Some comments on duality relations among these spacetimes will be added. We conclude with some brief discussion concerning generalizations of the previous constructions to arbitrary curved backgrounds having an $`\mathrm{SO}(1,2)`$ isometry subgroup.

### 4.1 Dilatonic waves

As reviewed in the introduction, one of the features of the cosmological scenario discussed in  was its higher dimensional interpretation in terms of flat space modded out by a boost. In the same spirit, one may look for a singular spacetime whose singularity might be interpreted as the one discussed in section 2. It is natural to change coordinates from the cartesian ones $`\{x^\pm ,x^1\}`$ to the adapted ones $`\{u,v,x\}`$

$`x^{}`$ $`=u`$ (13)
$`x^+`$ $`=v+ux^2`$
$`x^1`$ $`=ux`$
where $`x`$ stands for the compact coordinate along the orbit. In this coordinate system, the metric for the three dimensional subspace of spacetime where $`\mathrm{SO}(1,2)`$ acts, is written as

$$g=dudv+u^2(dx)^2.$$
(14)
The Killing vector $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$ becomes $`_x`$ in the above coordinate system and its norm vanishes at $`u=0`$. If one analyses the Kaluza-Klein reduction of the eleven dimensional Minkowski spacetime along the orbits of $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$, one expects a ten dimensional configuration becoming singular precisely where the causal singularity was located in M-theory. Proceeding in this way, one derives a $`\frac{1}{2}`$-supersymmetric type IIA configuration :

$`g`$ $`=|t+x|\left\{ds^2(\text{𝔼}^8)+(dx)^2(dt)^2\right\}`$ (15)
$`\mathrm{\Phi }\mathrm{\Phi }_0`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}}\mathrm{log}|t+x|,`$
where we used cartesian coordinates $`\{t,x\}`$ instead of the lightlike ones $`\{u,v\}`$.

Notice that the conformal factor $`|t+x|`$ does not disappear in the Einstein frame, where the metric is given by

$$g_E=|t+x|^{1/4}\left\{ds^2(\text{𝔼}^8)+(dx)^2(dt)^2\right\}.$$

On the other hand, the energy-momentum tensor has the same form as the one for an electromagnetic field $`T_{mn}=ck_mk_n`$. Indeed, the one form $`k_{(1)}`$ equals $`k=d\mathrm{\Phi }`$, and since the latter defines a null one form, the second contribution to the energy-momentum tensor, $`g^{mn}_m\mathrm{\Phi }_n\mathrm{\Phi }`$, vanishes. Thus, $`T_{mn}`$ vanishes except for the components on the t-x plane

$$T_{tt}=T_{tx}=T_{xx}=\frac{9}{4}\frac{1}{|t+x|^2}.$$

Thus, as expected, the ten dimensional geometry has an essential singularity on $`t+x=0`$, the lightlike hypersurface where the norm of the Killing vector used in the reduction vanishes. Notice that even though the scalar curvature vanishes, both the Riemann and energy-momentum tensors diverge on the singularity.

### 4.2 Resolution of the singularity : nullbranes

One way of resolving the causal singularity that appears when modding out spacetime by a null rotation is to add a compact spacelike transverse direction in the action of the $`\mathrm{U}(1)`$ subgroup used to identify points. In other words, one adds a transverse translation $`(\tau _{})`$ to the null rotation Killing vector $`(\xi _{\text{null}})`$ and mods out spacetime by the action of

$$\xi =\tau _{}+\xi _{\text{null}}.$$

Such a Killing vector has an strictly positive norm, thus suggesting the absence of closed causal curves. Furthermore, the presence of $`\tau _{}`$ removes all previous fixed points left invariant by the action of $`\xi _{}`$. To sum up, one expects a non-singular $`\frac{1}{2}`$\- supersymmetric spacetime, since translations do not modify the supersymmetry analysis presented before.

By analysing the orbits of $`\xi `$, it is straightforward to figure out the geometry of the quotient spacetime. In figure 4, it is explicitly shown how the previous causal singularity at $`x^{}=0`$ is resolved by the translation $`\tau _{}`$.

In order to prove that there are no closed causal curves in the quotient spacetime, it is useful to work in adapted coordinates. These were found in . Here, we just write the eleven dimensional metric in such a coordinate system :

$$\begin{array}{c}g=\mathrm{\Lambda }\left(dz+A\right)^2+2dudv\mathrm{\Lambda }^1x^2(du)^2\hfill \\ \hfill +\mathrm{\Lambda }^1(dx)^2+2ux\mathrm{\Lambda }^1dudx+ds^2(\text{𝔼}^7),\end{array}$$
(16)
where

$`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ $`=1+u^2`$ (17)
$`A_1`$ $`=\mathrm{\Lambda }^1\left(udxxdu\right),`$
and $`z`$ stands for the compact transverse spacelike direction $`(\xi =_z)`$.

What we want to prove is that there is no causal curve $`x^M(\lambda )`$, i.e. $`\frac{dx^M}{d\lambda }\frac{dx^N}{d\lambda }g_{MN}(x)0`$ $`\lambda `$, connecting the points $`(x_0^i,z)`$ and $`(x_0^i,z+R)`$, because if so, that would give rise to a closed curve in the quotient spacetime. The basic step of the proof is, once more, to realise that for such a curve to exist, there must be some value of the affine parameter $`\lambda `$ where the component of the tangent vector $`\frac{du}{d\lambda }`$ vanishes. Mathematically,

$$\lambda =\lambda ^{}\text{s.t.}\left(\frac{du}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}=0.$$

If one evaluates the norm of the tangent vector to the assumed closed causal curve at $`\lambda =\lambda ^{}`$

$$|\xi |^2=\mathrm{\Lambda }\left(\frac{dz}{d\lambda }+\mathrm{\Lambda }^1u\frac{dx}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}^2+\mathrm{\Lambda }^1\left(\frac{dx}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}^2+\underset{i=1}{\overset{7}{}}\left(\frac{dx^i}{d\lambda }\right)_\lambda ^{}^2,$$

one appreciates that it is positive or zero, so one concludes there are certainly no closed timelike curves. Furthermore, the lower bound of the norm is saturated if and only if

$$\frac{dz}{d\lambda }=\frac{dx}{d\lambda }=\frac{dx^i}{d\lambda }=0i\text{at}\lambda =\lambda ^{}.$$

But such a possibility is excluded because $`\lambda `$ is an affine parameter. Thus, closed null curves are also absent in this quotient spacetime.

Having resolved the singularity, we also conclude that the nullbrane configuration discovered in  is the ten dimensional configuration resolving the singularity of the dilatonic wave at $`u=0`$.

We would like to finish this subsection with some remarks concerning the local relation among the different configurations discussed so far. As emphasized in , any M-theory background with various identifications defines a moduli space of Kaluza-Klein reductions. Each point $`P`$ in this moduli corresponds to a type IIA configuration obtained by reduction along the orbits of a Killing vector field $`\xi _P`$. The freedom in choosing $`\xi _P`$ is equivalent to the freedom in identifying the different circles in this background as the M-theory circle. Different type IIA configurations obtained in this way will all be U-dual to each other 333Actually, only the full backgrounds keeping all momentum modes are dual.. In the case at hand, our starting M-theory configuration is Minkowski spacetime with two different identifications \[M-vacuum (a,b) in figure 5\] : along the $`S^1`$ circle, generated by $`R_z`$, and along the null rotation, generated by $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$. There are three different circles (Killing vector fields) that one can identify with the M-theory circle :

$`\xi _{(1)}`$ $`=R_z`$
$`\xi _{(2)}`$ $`=\xi _{\text{null}}`$
$`\xi _{(3)}`$ $`=R_z+\xi _{\text{null}}`$
Reduction along the orbits generated by $`\xi _{(1)}`$ \[R(a) in figure 5\] gives rise to Minkowski spacetime modded out by a null rotation \[IIA-vacuum (b) in figure 5\]. On the other hand, $`\xi _{(2)}`$ \[R(b)\] gives rise to a dilatonic wave with a transverse circle \[Dilatonic wave (a)\] and $`\xi _{(3)}`$ \[R(a,b)\] to the nullbrane configuration. All of them are connected to each other through the chain of dualities T S T’, where T stands for T-duality and S for an $`\mathrm{SL}(2,\text{})`$ transformation in type IIB, reminiscent of the $`\mathrm{SL}(2,\text{})`$ symmetry of the torus spanned by $`\{R_z,\xi _{\text{null}}\}`$. This statement can be easily checked by starting with the nullbrane configuration and first changing coordinates from $`\{u,v,x\}`$ to $`\{\stackrel{~}{u},\stackrel{~}{v},\stackrel{~}{x}\}`$

$`\stackrel{~}{x}`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{x}{u}}1`$ (18)
$`\stackrel{~}{u}`$ $`=u`$
$`\stackrel{~}{v}`$ $`=v{\displaystyle \frac{x^2}{u}}`$
in which the configuration is described by

$`g`$ $`=\mathrm{\Lambda }^{1/2}\left\{d\stackrel{~}{u}d\stackrel{~}{v}+ds^2(\text{𝔼}^7)\right\}+\mathrm{\Lambda }^{1/2}\stackrel{~}{u}^2(d\stackrel{~}{x})^2`$ (19)
$`\mathrm{\Phi }`$ $`=\mathrm{\Phi }_0+{\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}}\mathrm{log}\mathrm{\Lambda }`$
$`A_{(1)}`$ $`=\mathrm{\Lambda }^1\stackrel{~}{u}^2d\stackrel{~}{x},`$
where the scalar function $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ is defined by $`\mathrm{\Lambda }=1+\stackrel{~}{u}^2`$. All the involved T-duality transformations are along the $`\stackrel{~}{x}`$ (or its dual directions). On the other hand, taking into account the most general $`\mathrm{SL}(2,\text{})`$ transformation acting on $`\lambda =C_{(0)}+\text{i}e^\mathrm{\Phi }`$, where $`C_{(0)}`$ is the RR zero form

$$\lambda ^{}=\frac{a\lambda +b}{c\lambda +d}\text{ad-bc}=1,$$

one can check that under the forementioned chain of dualities, the nullbrane configuration is mapped to :

* Minkowski spacetime with null rotation identifications for the choice $`a=d=c`$, $`b=0`$ and $`d^2=1`$.
* Dilatonic wave in a transverse circle for the choice $`a=c=b`$, $`d=0`$ and $`c^2=1`$.

These duality maps are illustrated in figure 5.

### 4.3 Extension to curved backgrounds

The purpose of the present subsection is to emphasize that the above construction is not relying on the flatness of the starting spacetime configuration, but on the existence of an $`\mathrm{SO}(1,2)`$ isometry. Indeed, any spacetime compatible with string theory having an $`\mathrm{SO}(1,2)`$ group as a subgroup of its isometry group allows such a construction. Thus, as stressed in , the existence of an $`\mathrm{SO}(1,2)`$ symmetry and the possibility of identifying points along the null rotation subgroup, defines a new sector in string theory.

If one starts from the eleven dimensional M2-brane configuration, and reduces along the orbit of the Killing vector $`\xi _{\text{null}}`$, one ends up with a dilatonic wave propagating on a fundamental string, which preserves one fourth of the spacetime supersymmetries, and is described by

$`g`$ $`=|t+x|\left\{U^1[(dt)^2+(dx)^2]+ds^2(\text{𝔼}^8)\right\}`$ (20)
$`\mathrm{\Phi }\mathrm{\Phi }_0`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}}\mathrm{log}|t+x|{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\mathrm{log}U`$
$`H_{(3)}`$ $`=(t+x)dtdxdU^1,`$
where $`U`$ is an harmonic function defined on $`\text{𝔼}^8`$.

Proceeding analogously with the eleven dimensional M5-brane configuration, one ends up with a dilatonic wave propagating on a D4-brane

$`g`$ $`=|t+x|\left\{U^{1/2}[(dt)^2+(dx)^2+ds^2(\text{𝔼}^2)]+ds^2(\text{𝔼}^5)\right\}`$ (21)
$`\mathrm{\Phi }\mathrm{\Phi }_0`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}}\mathrm{log}|t+x|{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}\mathrm{log}U`$
$`G_{(4)}`$ $`=(t+x)dtdx\mathrm{dvol}\text{𝔼}^2dU,`$
where $`U`$ is now defined on $`\text{𝔼}^5`$.

If one considers the Mkk-monopole, one ends up with a dilatonic wave propagating on a KKA-monopole

$`g`$ $`=|t+x|\left\{U^{1/2}[(dt)^2+(dx)^2+ds^2(\text{𝔼}^4)]+ds_{TN}^2\right\}`$ (22)
$`\mathrm{\Phi }\mathrm{\Phi }_0`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}}\mathrm{log}|t+x|`$
It is straightforward to extend these constructions to any background having an $`\mathrm{SO}(1,2)`$ isometry.

## Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank O. Aharony, L. Álvarez-Gaumé, J. Barbón, M. Berkooz and J. M. Senovilla for discussions on the topics presented in this work and J. M. Figueroa-O’Farrill for many discussions on flux and null branes. It is also a pleasure to thank the theory division at CERN for hospitality during the intermediate stages of the present work. This research has been supported by a Marie Curie Fellowship of the European Community programme “Improving the Human Research Potential and the Socio-Economic knowledge Base” under the contract number HPMF-CT-2000-00480.