Willmore submanifolds in a sphere. (Q1812521)

Extremal submanifolds \(M\) in the \((n+p)\)-dimensional unit sphere \(S^{(n+p)}\) of the following functional (so-called Willmore submanifolds) \[ \int_M (S- nH^2)^{n/2}\,dv \] are studied, where \(S= \sum_{\alpha,i,j}(h^\alpha_{ij})^2\) is the square of the length of the second fundamental form and \(H\) is the mean curvature of \(M\). Nessesary and sufficient conditions for \(n\)-dimensional submanifold to be Willmore are obtained. Using these conditions an integral inequality of Simon's type for Willmore submanifolds is proved. Using this inequality it is proved that each compact \(n\)-dimensional Willmore submanifold in the unit sphere is either a Willmore torus or a Veronese surface. The improved version of the integral inequality is obtained under the assumption that the codimension of the immersion is greater than 2.