Global pinching theorems for even dimensional minimal submanifolds in the unit spheres (Q1106492)

The following global pinching theorem for minimal submanifolds is proved: Let \(M^{2n}\) be a minimal submanifold in the unit sphere with Euler characteristic less than or equal to two, then there exists a universal constant \(c(n)>0\), such that if \(\int_{M}S^ n<c,\) M is totally geodesic. Here S is the square of the norm of the second fundamental form of M. A topological lower bound for \(\int_{M}S^ n\) in terms of the Pontryagin numbers is also established.