Harmonic foliations on a compact Riemannian manifold of non-negative constant curvature (Q1102553): Difference between revisions

Let M be a compact oriented manifold and \({\mathcal F}^ a \)Riemannian and harmonic foliation with respect to a bundle-like metric. \textit{F. W. Kamber} and \textit{Ph. Tondeur} [Tôhoku Math. J., II. Ser. 34, 525-538 (1982; Zbl 0488.57009)] proved the fundamental formula for a special variation of \({\mathcal F}\), and making use of it they showed in another paper [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 275, 257-263 (1983; Zbl 0532.57016)] that the index of a Riemannian and harmonic foliation on the sphere S n \((n>2)\) for which the standard metric is bundle-like is not smaller than \(q+1\), where q is the codimension of \({\mathcal F}.\) In this paper, it is proved that any harmonic foliation on a compact Riemannian manifold of non-negative constant curvature for which the normal plane field is minimal is totally geodesic. As a corollary it is stated that any Riemannian and harmonic foliation on the sphere S n \((n>2)\) for which the standard metric is bundle-like is totally geodesic. By means of the classification theorem due to \textit{R. H. Escobales} jun. [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 95, 495-498 (1985; Zbl 0594.57012)], this means that harmonic foliations on spheres for which the standard metrics are bundle-like have been completely classified.