Classification of ideal submanifolds of real space forms with type number \(\leq 2\) (Q2347279)

Riemannian invariants play the most fundamental role in Riemannian geometry. They provide the intrinsic characteristics of Riemannian manifolds; moreover, they affect the behaviour of Riemannian manifolds in general. Classically, among Riemannian curvature invariants the most studied ones were the sectional, Ricci and scalar curvatures. The first author [Jpn. J. Math., New Ser. 26, No. 1, 105--127 (2000; Zbl 1026.53009)] introduced a new type of curvature invariants, denoted \(\delta(n_1, \dots,n_k)\) and called \(\delta\)-invariants (known also as Chen invariants). He proved optimal estimates of the squared mean curvature in terms of these invariants for submanifolds in real space forms. A submanifold satisfying the equality case of such an inequality is said to be ideal. In the paper under review, the authors classify the ideal submanifolds in the Euclidean space \({\mathbb E}^m\), the unit sphere \(S^m\) and hyperbolic space \(H^m(-1)\), respectively, with type number \(\leq 2\).