Differential Geometry Question

[Sistine]

Homework Statement

Consider the following parametrization of a Torus:

\sigma(u,v)=((R+r\cos u)\cos v, (R+r\cos u)\sin v, r\sin u)

R>r,\quad (u,v)\in [0,2\pi)^2

1. Compute the Gauss map at a given point.


2. What are the eigenvalues of that map in the base (\partial_1\sigma,\partial_2\sigma)?

Homework Equations

\partial_1\sigma=\frac{\partial\sigma}{\partial u}

\partial_2\sigma=\frac{\partial\sigma}{\partial v}

The Gauss map is defined as:

N(u,v)=\frac{\partial_1\sigma\times\partial_2\sigma}{|\partial_1\sigma\times\partial_2\sigma|}

The Attempt at a Solution

Computing the Gauss map at a point p is straightforward enough. But I'm not sure what part 2 of the question is asking me to do. How can I visualize the map as a matrix operator in a certain basis so that I can compute its eigenvalues?

 

[Dick]

They have to mean the eigenvalues of the derivative of the Gauss map, dN, the mapping between the tangent spaces of the plane and the torus.

 

[Sistine]

Perhaps your right. The image of the Gauss map at a point is perpendicular to the tangent space at that point , so that no linear combination of \partial_1\sigma, \partial_2\sigma could ever represent N at that point. However is it possible to represent the map N:R2->R3 as a matrix? I'll try to find out if there is an error in the question.