A Bernstein-type theorem for Riemannian manifolds with a Killing field (Q885813)

The classical Bernstein theorem asserts that any complete minimal surface in Euclidean space \(\mathbb R^3\) that can be written as the graph of a function on \(\mathbb R^2\) must be a plane. \textit{H. Rosenberg} observed in [Ill. J. Math. 46, No. 4, 1177--1195 (2002; Zbl 1036.53008)] that the following extension holds: Any entire minimal graph in \(\mathbb M^2\times\mathbb R\) over a complete two-dimensional Riemannian manifold \(\mathbb M^2\) with non-negative Gaussian curvature is a totally geodesic surface. According to his reasoning this follows since such a graph is necessarily stable, and a well-known result of \textit{R. Schoen} [Ann. Math. Stud. 103, 111--126 (1983; Zbl 0532.53042), ibid. 127--145 (1983; Zbl 0544.53001)] proves that a complete stable minimal surface in any three-dimensional Riemannian manifold with non-negative Ricci curvature must be totally geodesic. If \(\mathbb M^2\) is complete, there is an abundance of complete totally geodesic surfaces in \(\mathbb M^2\times\mathbb R.\) First, there are the slices \(\mathbb M^2\times \{t\}\) for any \(t\in\mathbb R\) that are stable. Then, there are the cylinders \(\{\gamma\}\times \mathbb R\) for any complete geodesic \(\gamma\) in \(\mathbb M^2\) and, as seen below, depending on \(\gamma\) these may or may not be stable. Slices are (entire) graphs over \(\mathbb M^2\) and cylinders certainly not. But surfaces in both classes share the property that the angle function between the Gauss map and the (Killing) vector field \(T = \partial/\partial t\) does not change sign. In this paper, the authors further extend Bernstein's result to complete minimal surfaces in (maybe non-complete) ambient spaces of non-negative Ricci curvature carrying a Killing field. This is done under the assumption that the sign of the angle function between a global Gauß\ map and the Killing field remains unchanged along the surface. In fact, the main result only requires the presence of a homothetic Killing field.