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Complex Structure

The complex structure of a point ${\bf x}={x_1, x_2}$ in the Plane is defined by the linear Map $J: \Bbb{R}^2\to\Bbb{R}^2$

\begin{displaymath}
J(x_1, x_2)=(-x_2, x_1),
\end{displaymath}

and corresponds to a clockwise rotation by $\pi/2$. This map satisfies
$\displaystyle J^2$ $\textstyle =$ $\displaystyle -I$  
$\displaystyle (J{\bf x})\cdot(J{\bf y})$ $\textstyle =$ $\displaystyle {\bf x}\cdot{\bf y}$  
$\displaystyle (J{\bf x})\cdot{\bf x}$ $\textstyle =$ $\displaystyle 0,$  

where $I$ is the Identity Map.


More generally, if $V$ is a 2-D Vector Space, a linear map $J:V\to V$ such that $J^2=-I$ is called a complex structure on $V$. If $V=\Bbb{R}^2$, this collapses to the previous definition.


References

Gray, A. Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces.Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 3 and 229, 1993.




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26