A Hilbert-type theorem for spacelike surfaces with constant Gaussian curvature in \(\mathbb H^{2} \times \mathbb R_{1}\) (Q1041284)

In 1900 \textit{H. Liebmann} [Math. Ann. 53, 81--112 (1900; JFM 31.0610.01)] characterized the spheres as the unique complete surfaces with constant positive Gaussian curvature in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). One year later, \textit{D. Hilbert} [American M. S. Trans. 2, 87--99 (1901; JFM 32.0608.01)] showed that it does not exist any complete surface with constant negative Gaussian curvature in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). In [Bull. Braz. Math. Soc. (N.S.) 38, No.~4, 533--554 (2007; Zbl 1136.53046)] \textit{J. A. Aledo Sánchez}, \textit{J. M. Espinar} and \textit{J. A. Gálvez} extended the Liebmann and Hilbert theorems to the case of complete surfaces with constant Gaussian curvature in the Riemannian homogeneous product spaces \(\mathbb{S}^2\times\mathbb{R}\) and \(\mathbb{H}^2\times\mathbb{R}\). In the present paper it is shown that in \(\mathbb{H}^2\times \mathbb{R}_1\) there exists no complete space-like surface with constant Gaussian curvature \(K>-1\). (But there are examples of complete space-like surfaces in \(\mathbb{H}^2\times \mathbb{R}_1\) with constant Gaussian curvature \(K\leq-1\).) An important geometrical tool for the proof is the abstract theory of Codazzi pairs following \textit{T. Klotz Milnor} [J. Differ. Geom. 15, 365--380 (1980; Zbl 0464.53002)], and the theorem of \textit{Ch. Wissler} [Comment. Math. Helv. 47, 348--372 (1972; Zbl 0257.53003)]; see also \textit{T. Weinstein} [An introduction in Lorentz surfaces. Walter de Gruiter, Berlin/New York (1996; Zbl 0881.53001)].