A geometric theory of harmonic and semi-conformal maps
by Anders Kock
Preprints
Number 13 (September 2004)
We describe for any Riemannian manifold M a certain scheme ML, lying in between the first and second neighbourhood of the diagonal of M. Semi-conformal maps between Riemannian manifolds are then analyzed as those maps that preserve ML; harmonic maps are analyzed as those that preserve the (Levi-Civita-) mirror image formation inside ML.
Published in Central European Journal of Mathematics 2(5) 2004 708-724.