Symmetry via spherical reflection and spanning drops in a wedge (Q1816542)

We consider embedded ring-type surfaces (that is, compact, connected, orientable surfaces with two boundary components and Euler-Poincaré characteristic zero) in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) of constant mean curvature which meet planes \(\Pi_1\) and \(\Pi_2\) at constant contact angles \(\gamma_1\) and \(\gamma_2\) and bound, together with those planes, an open set in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). If the planes are parallel, then it is known that any contact angles may be realized by infinitely many such surfaces given explicitly in terms of elliptic integrals. If \(\Pi_1\) meets \(\Pi_2\) at an angle \(\alpha\) and if \(\gamma_1+ \gamma_2> \pi+ \alpha\), then portions of spheres provide (explicit) solutions. In the present work it is shown that if \(\gamma_1+ \gamma_2 \leq \pi+ \alpha\), then the problem admits no solution. The result contrasts with recent work of H. C. Wente who constructed, in the particular case \(\gamma_1= \gamma_2= \pi/2\), a self-intersecting surface spanning a wedge as described above. Our proof is based on an extension of the Alexandrov planar reflection procedure to a reflection about spheres [cf. \textit{J. McCuan}, `Symmetry via spherical reflection' (preprint) (1994)], on the intrinsic geometry of the surface, and on a new maximum principle related to surface geometry. The method should also be of interest in connection with other problems arising in the global differential geometry of surfaces.