A Bernstein theorem for complete spacelike constant mean curvature hypersurfaces in Minkowski space (Q1265707): Difference between revisions

The main result of this paper is the following, Let \(M\) be a complete spacelike constant mean curvature hypersurface in Lorentz-Minkowski space \(\mathbb R^{m+1}_1\). Let \(g\) be a function on \(M\) such that \(e^{-g}\) is superharmonic. If the image of \(M\) under the Gauss map \(\gamma:M\rightarrow \mathbb H^m(-1)\) lies in \(\{(\gamma_1,\dots, \gamma_m)\mid \gamma_m>e^{-g}\}\), then \(M\) is a hyperplane. In particular, this is the case if the Gauss image is contained in the halfspace \(\{\gamma_m>c\}\) for some constant \(c>0\). As an application, one obtains a Bernstein theorem for spacelike surfaces with parallel mean curvature vector in \(\mathbb R^4_2\). This further extends previous Bernstein type results in the indefinite case, in which one assumed bounded Gauss image [see, e.g., \textit{B. Palmer}, Comment. Math. Helv. 65, 52-57 (1990; Zbl 0702.53008); \textit{Y.-L. Xin}, ibid. 66, 590-598 (1991; Zbl 0752.53038)]. The proof is analytic, relying on a gradient estimate for harmonic maps.