On symmetries of constant mean curvature surfaces. I: General theory (Q1281717)

Let \(\Psi :D\to {\mathbb R}^3\) be a conformal constant mean curvature (CMC) immersion of an open simply connected subset of the complex plane \({\mathbb C}\). Let \(\Aut \Psi (D)\) be a group of spatial symmetries of the immersion consisting of proper Euclidean motions \(T\) such that \(T \Psi (D)=\Psi (D)\); \(\Aut_{\Psi} D\) is a subgroup of biholomorphic maps \(g:D\to D\) such that there exists \(T\in \Aut \Psi (D)\) with \(\Psi \circ g=T\circ \Psi \); \(\psi \) is the corresponding group homomorphism \(\psi:\Aut_{\Psi} D\to\Aut\Psi (D)\). The authors describe properties of the group \(\Aut \Psi (D)\) in terms of biholomorphic automorphisms of the Riemann surface \(M\), where \(\pi :D\to M\) is the universal covering. In particular, in the case when \(M\) is complete with respect to the metric induced by \(\Psi\), then the map \(\psi\) is surjective. Also, the authors show that the group \(\Aut \Psi (D)\) is nondiscrete if and only if the surface \(\Psi (D)\) is isometric to a CMC-surface of revolution, i.e., a Delaunay surface. Other results in this direction are also obtained.