# An equivalent definition for contact pair manifolds

َContact manifold

A $(2n + 1)$-dimensional manifold $M$ is said to be a contact manifold if it admits a global 1-form $\eta$ such that $\eta\wedge (d\eta)^n\neq 0$.

There is an equivalent definition by J. W. Gray:

A manifold admit an almost contact structure if the structural group of the tangent bundle is reducible to $U(n)\times 1$.

Contact pairs manifold

A pair $(\alpha_1, \alpha_2)$ of $1$-forms on a manifold is said to be a contact pair of type $(h,k)$ if $$\alpha_1 \wedge (d\alpha_1)^h \wedge\alpha_2 \wedge(d\alpha_2)^k\ \text{ is a volume form,}\\ (d\alpha_1)^{h+1} = 0\ \text{and}\ (d\alpha_2)^{k+1} = 0.$$

Question: Is there an equivalent definition for contact pair similar to contact case?

Thanks.

• In your first definition you need to assume that $M$ is orientable. The second definition is of almost contact structure, according to Gray [MR0112161]. – Jarek Kędra Jul 12 '17 at 12:18
• @JarekKędra, Thanks for your accuracy. – C.F.G Jul 12 '17 at 12:36
• Notic that every almost contact manifold is orientable. [Yano, Kon, Structure on manifolds, p. 255] – C.F.G Jul 12 '17 at 12:47

Maybe you would be interested in an almost contact pair like $TM$ splits into $\mathbb{R}\oplus E_1\oplus \mathbb{R}\oplus E_2$, where $E_1$ and $E_2$ are complex bundles of (complex) dimensions $h$ and $k$ respectively. Is this useful for anything? I don't know.