Local isometric embedding of two dimensional Riemannian manifolds into \(R^ 3\) with nonpositive Gaussian curvature (Q5903464): Difference between revisions

The problem of \(c^{\infty}\) local isometric embedding of a two- dimensional Riemannian manifold into \(R^ 3\) is the problem whether \(C^{\infty}\) functions x(u,v), y(u,v), z(u,v) exist in a neighborhood of a point, say \(O=(u,v)\), which satisfy \(ds^ 2=Edu^ 2+2F dudv+G dv^ 2=dx^ 2+dy^ 2+dz^ 2\), when the first fundamental form \(ds^ 2\) is given. A classical result says that the problem is answered affirmatively if the Gaussian curvature K of \(ds^ 2\) is nonzero at O. In a recent result due to \textit{C. Lin} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 39, 867- 887 (1986; Zbl 0612.53013)] an affirmative answer was given, when \(K=0\) and grad \(K\neq 0\) at O. What happens if \(K=0\) and grad K\(=0\) at O? In this paper an affirmative answer is given, when Hess K is negative at O. [The reviewer does not understand the difference between the conditions (ii) and (iii) on page 241 and the way of getting (1.4) from (ii).]