Linearizability of d-webs, d ≥ 4, on two-dimensional manifolds

Abstract

We find d − 2 relative differential invariants for a d-web, d ≥ 4, on a two-dimensional manifold and prove that their vanishing is necessary and sufficient for a d-web to be linearizable. If one writes the above invariants in terms of web functions f(x, y) and g4(x, y), ..., gd(x, y), then necessary and sufficient conditions for the linearizabilty of a d-web are two PDEs of the fourth order with respect to f and g4, and d − 4 PDEs of the second order with respect to f and g4, ..., gd. For d = 4, this result confirms Blaschke’s conjecture on the nature of conditions for the linearizabilty of a 4-web. We also give Mathematica codes for testing 4- and d-webs (d > 4) for linearizability and examples of their usage.