Isometric deformations of surfaces preserving the third fundamental form (Q2462228): Difference between revisions

The following problem is studied: to what extent is a surface \(M^2\) in the Euclidean space \(\mathbb{R}^4\) determined by the third fundamental form? In general for Euclidean submanifolds this problem was stated by \textit{M. Dajczer} and \textit{D. Gromoll} [Math. Z. 191, 201--205 (1986; Zbl 0562.53041)]. Here the third fundamental form is due to \textit{M. Obata} [J. Differ. Geom. 2, 217--223 (1968; Zbl 0181.49801)] the pull back of the canonical metric on the Grassmannian \(G_{2,4}\) via the Gauss map, and is given by \[ \text{III}(X,Y)=2\langle A_H X,Y \rangle-K\langle X,Y \rangle, \] where \(H\) is the mean curvature vector field, \(A_H\) is the corresponding shape operator, \(K\) is the Gaussian curvature, and \(X,Y\) are arbitrary tangent vector fields of \(M^2\). It is proved that there exist families of surfaces in \(\mathbb{R}^4\) which allow isometric deformations with isometric but not congruent Gaussian images. In particular, a method is provided which gives locally all surfaces in \(\mathbb{R}^4\) with conformal Gauss map that allow such deformations. As a consequence a way is pointed out for constructing non-spherical pseudoumbilical surfaces in \(\mathbb{R}^4\).