
A unit vector field on a Riemannian manifold $M$ is called geodesic if all of its integral curves are geodesics. We show, in the case of $M$ being a flat 3-manifold not equal to $\mathbb{E}^3$, that every such vector field is tangent to a 2-dimensional totally geodesic foliation. Furthermore, it is shown that a geodesic vector field $X$ on a closed flat 3-manifold is (up to rescaling) the Reeb vector field of a contact form if and only if there is a contact structure transverse to $X$ that is given as the orthogonal complement of some other geodesic vector field. An explicit description of the lifted contact structures (up to diffeomorphism) on the 3-torus is given in terms of the volume of $X$. Finally, similar results for non-closed flat 3-manifolds are discussed.
19 pages, 6 figures V2: Minor corrections, added remark following Theorem 1. V3: Corrected a mistake in the statement of Proposition 7
Mathematics - Differential Geometry, Geodesics in global differential geometry, Global theory of symplectic and contact manifolds, Vector fields, frame fields in differential topology, contact 3-manifold, totally geodesic foliation, Reeb vector field, flat 3-manifold, Differential Geometry (math.DG), geodesible vector field, Mathematics - Symplectic Geometry, Foliations (differential geometric aspects), FOS: Mathematics, Symplectic Geometry (math.SG), 53C12, 53D35, 57R25, 53C22
Mathematics - Differential Geometry, Geodesics in global differential geometry, Global theory of symplectic and contact manifolds, Vector fields, frame fields in differential topology, contact 3-manifold, totally geodesic foliation, Reeb vector field, flat 3-manifold, Differential Geometry (math.DG), geodesible vector field, Mathematics - Symplectic Geometry, Foliations (differential geometric aspects), FOS: Mathematics, Symplectic Geometry (math.SG), 53C12, 53D35, 57R25, 53C22
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