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Let $D\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ be a planar domain (maybe simply connected) and consider all the mappings $f:D\to\mathbb{R}^2$ with constant, fixed, positive singular values. Let $E=(E_1,E_2)$ be the orthonormal frame on $D$, such that at each point $p$ the image vectors $\mathrm{d}f\bigl(E_i(p)\bigr)$ are orthogonal and have constant norm.

Calling $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ the curvatures of the $E_1$ and $E_2$ integral curves, then

Can $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ change sign on $D$ ?

(When $D$ is simply connected) the nets of such integrals lines (called HP-nets and/or slip-line nets) have important applications in elasticity and plasticity theory, and there's a great deal of physical evidence towards a negative answer ($\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ cannot change sign), however I have no knowledge of a proof.

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    $\begingroup$ The answer depends on the domain $D$. For example, if $D=\mathbb{R}^2$, then the only such $f$ are affine, and the $\kappa_i$ must necessarily vanish identically. However, there will exist simply-connected domains $D$ for which there exists such mappings $f$ for which both $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ do change signs, since the PDE that governs this is a hyperbolic Monge-Ampère equation. When I have time, I can put in the details of the analysis, if you are interested. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 23, 2021 at 9:49
  • $\begingroup$ @RobertBryant, Thank you, I agree. In highly symmetric domains like the unit disk, is it possible give a definite answer ? $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 23, 2021 at 17:32
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    $\begingroup$ There will be solutions for which the $\kappa_i$ change sign in any bounded domain, because once there is a solution on some open domain, you can scale the solution to make the domain arbitrarily large. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 23, 2021 at 20:45

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Here's how one can construct a specific example to illustrate what can happen:

First, recall from my answer to this question that, if you have a smooth map $f:D\to\mathbb{R}^2$ with constant positive singular values, then, letting $(e_1,e_2)$ be the orthonormal frame field on $D$ such that $\bigl(f'(e_1),f'(e_2)\bigr)$ are orthogonal with $|f'(e_i)|=\sigma_i$ with $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$, then the dual $1$-forms $(\omega_1,\omega_2)$ satisfy $$ \mathrm{d}\omega_1 = \kappa_1\,\omega_1\wedge\omega_2\qquad \mathrm{d}\omega_2 = \kappa_2\,\omega_2\wedge\omega_1\,\tag1 $$ where $\kappa_i:D\to\mathbb{R}$ is the curvature function of the flow lines of $e_i$. Moreover, we know that $$ \mathrm{d}(\kappa_1\,\omega_1) = \mathrm{d}(\kappa_2\,\omega_2) = 0.\tag2 $$

Conversely, given a surface $S$ endowed with a coframing $\omega = (\omega_1,\omega_2)$ and functions $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ that satisfy equations (1) and (2), one can construct a corresponding $f:D\to\mathbb{R}^2$ with constant singular values $\sigma_i$.

Now, it's not hard to construct such data $(\omega_1,\omega_2,\kappa_1,\kappa_2)$ for which $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ vanish along some curves. For example, on a domain $S$ in the $uv$-plane that contains the origin, assume that $\lambda_1$ and $\lambda_2$ are nonzero functions that satisfy the linear hyperbolic system $$ \frac{\partial\lambda_1}{\partial v} + u\lambda_2 = \frac{\partial\lambda_2}{\partial u} + v\lambda_1 = 0\,.\tag3 $$ For example, $\lambda_1 = \lambda_2 = \mathrm{e}^{-uv}$ satisfies (3) on the entire $uv$-plane. Then the data $$ \omega_1 = \lambda_1\,\mathrm{d}u,\quad \omega_2 = \lambda_2\,\mathrm{d}v,\quad \kappa_1 = \frac{u}{\lambda_1}\,,\quad \kappa_2 = \frac{v}{\lambda_2} $$ satisfy (1) and (2) while $\kappa_1$ vanishes along $u=0$ and $\kappa_2$ vanishes along $v=0$. Applying the integration method from the above-mentioned answer, one can now use this data to construct the desired $f$.

Taking the solution $\lambda_1=\lambda_2 = \mathrm{e}^{-uv}$ of (3), one finds that, letting $F:\mathbb{C}\to\mathbb{C}$ be the entire holomorphic function that satisfies $F(0)=0$ and $F'(z) = \mathrm{e}^{iz^2/2}$, and, for each real $\sigma>1$, letting $S_\sigma:\mathbb{C}\to\mathbb{C}$ satisfy $S_\sigma(x+iy)= x + i\sigma y$, and letting $D\subset\mathbb{C}$ be a domain containing $0\in\mathbb{C}$ on which $F$ has an inverse $F^{-1}:D\to\mathbb{C}$ satisfying $F^{-1}(0)=0$, then the mapping $f_\sigma:D\to\mathbb{C}$ defined by $f_\sigma(z) = F\bigl(S_\sigma\bigl(F^{-1}(z)\bigr)\bigr)$ has constant singular values $1$ and $\sigma$ while the corresponding functions $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ change sign along curves that meet transversely at the origin in $D$.

More generally, it is useful to switch points of view and let $F$ be the set of triples $(x;e_1,e_2)$ where $x\in\mathbb{R}^2$ and $(e_1,e_2)$ are an oriented orthonormal basis of $\mathbb{R}^2$. Then $F$ is a smooth $3$-manifold embedded naturally in $(\mathbb{R}^2)^3 = \mathbb{R}^6$.

Define the canonical $1$-forms $\omega_i = e_i\cdot \mathrm{d}x$ and $\omega_{12} = e_1\cdot\mathrm{d}e_2$, and note that they satisfy $$ \mathrm{d}\omega_1 = -\omega_{12}\wedge\omega_2\,,\quad \mathrm{d}\omega_2 = \omega_{12}\wedge\omega_1\,,\quad \mathrm{d}\omega_{12} = 0.\quad $$ Now, on $F\times\mathbb{R}^2$ with projection $(\kappa_1,\kappa_2):F\times\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}^2$ onto the second factor, consider the exterior differential ideal $\mathcal{I}$ generated by the $1$-form $\theta = \omega_{12}+\kappa_1\,\omega_1 -\kappa_2\,\omega_2$ (which is a contact form on the $5$-manifold $F\times\mathbb{R}^2$) and the pair of $2$-forms $$ \Upsilon_1 = (\mathrm{d}\kappa_1-{\kappa_1}^2\,\omega_2)\wedge\omega_1 \qquad \Upsilon_2 = (\mathrm{d}\kappa_2-{\kappa_2}^2\,\omega_1)\wedge\omega_2 $$ Then $\mathrm{d}\theta \equiv \Upsilon_1 - \Upsilon_2 \mod \theta$. Then $\mathcal{I}$ is involutive for the independence condition $\omega_1\wedge\omega_2\not=0$.

In particular, each of the integral curves of the rank 4 system $$ \theta = \mathrm{d}\kappa_1-\omega_1-{\kappa_1}^2\,\omega_2 = \mathrm{d}\kappa_2-\omega_2-{\kappa_2}^2\,\omega_1 = \omega_1-\omega_2 = 0 $$ on $F\times\mathbb{R}^2$ can be thickened to an integral surface of $\mathcal{I}$ on which $\omega_1\wedge\omega_2$ is nonvanishing. For example, we have the integral curve $$ (x;e_1,e_2,\kappa_1,\kappa_2) = \bigl((t,t);\,\partial/\partial x,\,\partial/\partial y, \,\arctan(t), \,\arctan(t)\bigr), $$ which extends to an integral manifold of $\mathcal{I}$ on an open domain $D$ containing the origin $(0,0)$. The corresponding solution $f$ will have each of $\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_2$ changing sign along a curve that meets the 'diagonal' transversely. (One could probably solve this initial value problem explicitly, but I don't have time to attempt that right now.)

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you so much. First please let me ask about the specific example you mention. Didn't we impose $\kappa_1\kappa_2\not=0$ in the aforementioned question ? In that case the domain $S$ cannot contain the $uv$-axes. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 21:31
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    $\begingroup$ @DanielCastro: No. If equations (1) and (2) apply, then the construction of a corresponding map $f$ works, regardless of whether the $\kappa_i$ vanish. The further reduction to a single hyperbolic equation in the previous answer was made under the assumption that $\kappa_1\kappa_2\not=0$, but that was a special case. In this answer, I used a different reduction, now to a first-order hyperbolic system, that applies in the case that the $\kappa_i$ vanish only to first order along a curve. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 22:16
  • $\begingroup$ Understood, thank you. Do you $\textit{think}$ there is a way to answer if, given two (finite, connected) domains $D_1$ and $D_2$, there exists a diffeomorphism $f:D_1\rightarrow D_2$ with constant singular values ? As you mentioned, it's easy to construct $\textit{one}$ $f$ on some $D_1$, but how to incorporate the condition of being diffeomorphic to some $D_2$ ? As I stated in the question, these mappings between planar domains are currently under intense research by physicists due to newly discovered materials that deform in a similar manner. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25, 2021 at 23:08
  • $\begingroup$ @DanielCastro: I'm not sure what you would consider an answer. For example, consider, instead of the constant singular values condition, the set of mappings of the form $f(x,y)= \bigl(X(x),Y(y)\bigr)$ where $X$ and $Y$ are smooth functions with nonzero derivatives everywhere. Can you describe necessary and sufficient conditions on two domains $D_1$ and $D_2$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$ to be diffeomorphic by an $f$ of the above type? This is a kind of hyperbolic boundary value problem, as is the constant singular values problem you are asking about. The former should be much easier than the latter. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 16:14
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, the hyperbolicity and local solvability was shown by DeTurck and Yang, but we have almost no global result. For example, the $\textit{simplest}$ case of a unit disk to itself was discussed lengthly in this question* but there's no conclusive answer. I would consider an answer some criteria based on geometric properties of the domains $D_1$ and $D_2$, like an isoperimetric inequality involving areas and lengths of boundaries, that if satisfied (violated) implies that there is (no) such an $f$. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 16:33

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