Isoparametric functions on \(\mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{M}^m\) (Q1654190)

Let \((N,h)\) be a connected Riemannian manifold. A non-constant smooth function \(f:N\longrightarrow {\mathbb R}\) is said to be \textit{isoparametric} if there exist smooth functions \(a,b:{\mathbb R}\longrightarrow {\mathbb R}\) such that \(|\nabla f|^2=a(f)\) and \(\Delta f=b(f)\). Smooth hypersurfaces \(f^{-1}(t)\) for regular values \(t\) of \(f\) are called \textit{isoparametric hypersurfaces}. The pre-image of the maximum and minimum of \(f\) are called \textit{focal varieties}. In the present paper the author is interested in isoparametric hypersurfaces in certain Riemannian products. The first result is that an isoparametric function on \({\mathbb R}^n\times M^m\), \(n,m\geq 2\), with compact level sets and where \(M^m\) is a closed Riemannian manifold is a radial function on \({\mathbb R}^n\). The second result of the paper is the following: The isoparametric hypersurfaces with constant principal curvatures in \({\mathbb S}^2\times {\mathbb R}^2\) are of the form \({\mathbb S}^2\times {\mathbb R}\), \({\mathbb S}^2\times {\mathbb S}^1(r)\), \(r\in{\mathbb R}^+\), or \({\mathbb S}^1(t)\times {\mathbb R}^2\), \(t\in (0,1)\).