Null general helices and submanifolds (Q1429074)

Let \(\gamma\) be a null curve in a Lorentzian manifold \(M_1\) \((\dim M_1\geq 3)\), framed by Cartan with tangent vector field \(X\), principal vector field \(Y\), and binormal unit vector field \(Z\). The null curve \(\gamma\) is called a general helix if its curvature functions are not constant but have constant ratio. In the paper the differential equations are deduced for \(X\), \(Y\), \(Z\) which characterize the null general helix. It is established that if \(M_i\) \((\dim M_1\geq 3)\) is a Lorentzian submanifold of a pseudo-Riemannian manifold \(\overline M_i\) with index \(i\) and if every Cartan framed null general helix in \(\overline M_i\) is also a Cartan framed null general helix in \(\overline M_i\), then \(M_1\) is a totally geodesic submanifold in \(\overline M_i\).