Lines of mean curvature on surfaces immersed in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) (Q1773860)

A surface \(F^2\) in \(\mathbb R^3\) contains some standard families of lines defined by its normal curvature \(k_n\) and principal curvatures \(k_1\), \(k_2\). For example, two families of curvature lines in \(F^2\) are given by \(k_n=k_i\), \(i=1,2\); two transversal families of asymptotic lines supported by the hyperbolic region of \(F^2\) are defined by \(k_n=0\); other classical foliations of \(F^2\) are given by \(k_n=F(k_1,k_2)\), where \(F\) is either the mean curvature \(H=(k_1+k_2)/2\) or the Gauss curvature root \(\sqrt{K}=\sqrt{k_1k_2}\) or the harmonic curvature \(K/H = 2k_1k_2/(k_1+k_2)\). Geometric and topologic (qualitative) properties of these standard families of lines in \(F^2\) related to umbilic and parabolic singularities were studied by few generations of geometers [see: Resen. Inst. Mat. Estat. Univ. Sao Paulo 3, No. 3, 291--322 (1998; Zbl 1098.53500) (for references), and ``Qualitative theory of second-order dynamic systems'', A Halsted Press Book (1973; Zbl 0282.34022), Topology 1, 101--120 (1962; Zbl 0107.07103), Astérisque 98--99, 195--215 (1983; Zbl 0521.53003), Mat. Contemp. 12, 83--102 (1997; Zbl 0930.53003), Publ. Mat., Barc. 45, No. 2, 431--466 (2001; Zbl 1005.53003), An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. 74, No. 1, 1--17 (2002; Zbl 1009.53006), Ann. Fac. Sci. Toulouse, VI. Sér., Math. 11, No. 3, 377--401 (2002; Zbl 1052.53008)]. The paper under review is devoted to studying a general foliation with singlularities in \(F^2\) supported by the elliptic region of \(F^2\) and defined by \(k_n=M(k_1, k_2)\), where \(M(k_1,k_2)\) is a symmetric homogeneous function of the principal curvatures \(k_1\), \(k_2\) which is continuous everywhere and analytic for \(k_1k_2>0\). For such a foliation of \(F^2\), the authors determine the generic patterns of lines near umbilic points, parabolic curves and periodic leaves of the foliation, which structurally stable under small perturbations of \(F^2\subset \mathbb{R}^3\). As principal result, sufficient conditions for the structural stability of a \(F(k_1,k_2)\)-foliation on \(F^2\subset\mathbb{R}^3\) are established.