The Lawson ξp,q surfaces comprise a family minimal surfaces in S3 of genus pq. There is a flow through minimal surface in which the two integers are replaced by real parameters.
Shown below is one leg of this flow, from the Lawson surface ξ2,1 of genus 2 to ξ2,2 of genus 4. An order 2 symmetry of the initial surface with six fixed points is “opened” along three cuts until it reaches an order 3 symmetry. The final surface is show before and after the missing piece is filled in.
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| ξ2,1 | ξ2,5/4 |
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| ξ2,3/2 | ξ2,7/4 |
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| ξ2,2 | ξ2,2 |