A Chebychev net obeying Sine-Gordon equation is drawn on a surface of constant negative Gauss Curvature $K$ so that the asymptotic differential rhombic element corners lie on lines of principal curvature. Show that principal rotation of surface normals across diagonals ($\phi_1$ = const, $\phi_2 $ = const.) of rhombus are related as: $$ d \phi_1^2 + d \phi_2^2 = - K ds^2 $$ which is a hyperbolic metric with rotation parameters $\phi_1,\phi_2$ EDIT1: The following fully reinforces original view of hyperbolic geometry where the parameters $ (\phi_1, \phi_2 )$ take the place of $(u,v)$ in the Euclidean metric upto an invariant constant $a$ : $$ ds^2= du^2 + dv^2 \tag{1} $$ Let $ K= -1/a^2$ , primes with respect to hyperbolic geodesic asymptotic arcs $$ \phi_1^{\prime2} +\phi_2^{\prime2} = \frac{1}{a^2} \tag{2}$$ Taking components of arc along direction of maximum and minimum curvature directions we have by definition of constant $K$ $$ \frac{d \phi_1}{ds \cos \psi} \cdot \frac{d \phi_2}{ds \sin \psi} = \frac{d \phi_1 ^{\prime}}{ \cos \psi} \cdot \frac{d \phi_2 ^{\prime}}{ \sin \psi} =\frac{1}{a^2} \tag{3} $$ Solving (2),(3) we obtain derivatives of rotation in each direction from as: $$\phi_1^{\prime} = \frac { \cos \psi} {a}, \;\phi_2^{\prime} = \frac { \sin \psi} {a} \tag{4} $$ Squaring and adding the above, $$ ds^2 = a^2( d \phi_1^2 + d \phi_2^2). \tag{5} $$ What prompts me to post this is: Recognition of this observed ***identity between Euclidean and Hyperbolic parameters *** to hopefully remove vagueness (in my mind at least) while recognizing these rotations as hyperbolic parameters: > $$ (u,v) \leftrightarrow a (\phi_1 , \phi_2 ) \tag{6} $$ [![ HyperbolicGeodesicParallels_DifferentialRhombus ][1]][1] [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/GcwYA.png In this connection I quote from the text book of DJ Struik, Lectures on Classical DifG, Second edition pp 153 left bottom: > The whole geometry of Lobachevski-Bolyai could thus be interpreted on > a surface of constant negative curvature , *parallel lines becoming > geodesics* (Emphasis mine). Beltrami proved that the > consistency of implied consistency of Lobachevski-Bolyai geometry, > since an inconsistency in the latter could be interpreted as an > inconsistency in the theory of surfaces of constant negative (Gauss) > curvature which itself is based on Euclidean postulates. Above image is made on *Mathematica* based on the metric correspondence (6). The discussion is for any surface, not necessarily that of revolution as pictured.