A new formula for the shape operator of a geodesic sphere and its applications (Q1078815)

Let m be a point in a Riemannian manifold (M,g). Consider a normal neighborhood \(B(m,r_{\theta})\) of m. Let \(S_ p(m)\) denote the shape operator at m of the geodesic sphere centered at some point p in \(B(m,r_{\theta})\) and passing through m. In this paper the authors derive a formula which yields a relationship between \(S_ p(m)\) and the contravariant metric tensor \((g^{ij})(p)\) expressed in normal coordinates in the neighborhood \(B(m,r_{\theta})\). By applying this formula, the authors show that the metric g in a normal neighborhood \(B(m,r_{\theta})\) is uniquely determined, up to isometry, by the scalar product on \(T_ mM\) and the shape operators at m of the ''bunch'' of geodesic spheres going through m, with centers in \(B(m,r_{\theta})\).