On saddle submanifolds of Riemannian manifolds (Q1373245)

Let \(M_1\) and \(M_2\) be an \(l_1\)- resp. \(l_2\)-dimensional submanifold of a complete \(n\)-dimensional Riemannian manifold \(\overline M\). In [Pac. J. Math. 11, 165-174 (1961; Zbl 0107.39002) and Ann. Math., II. Ser. 83, 68-73 (1966; Zbl 0189.22401)], \textit{T. Frankel} proved that if \(\overline M\) has positive sectional curvature and \(M_1\) and \(M_2\) are compact and totally geodesic and if \(l_1+ l_2\geq n\), then \(M_1\) and \(M_2\) intersect, and if these submanifolds coincide, then the canonical homomorphism \(\Pi_1 (M_1) \to \Pi_2 (\overline M)\) is surjective. In the article under review, the authors prove this result under the following weaker assumptions: \(\overline M\) has nonnegative \(k\)-Ricci curvature \((k\in \{1, \dots, n-1\})\) which, however, is positive at all points of \(M_1 \cup M_1\); \(M_i\) is an \(s_i\)-saddle submanifold (for \(i= 1,2)\); \(l_1+ l_2 \geq n+k-1 +s_1 +s_2\); and \(M_2\) is allowed to be only complete. It should be mentioned that 1-Ricci curvature means sectional curvature and \((n-1)\)-Ricci curvature means Ricci curvature, and that \(M\) is an \(s\)-saddle submanifold of \(\overline M\) if for every normal vector \(\xi\) of \(M\) the shape operator \(A_\xi\) of \(M\) has at most \(s\) negative and at most \(s\) positive eigenvalues.