Submanifolds of maximal nullity in symmetric spaces (Q1818230)

The index \(\nu\) of relative nullity of an \(n\)-dimensional submanifold \(M\) of a Riemannian manifold is the greatest lower bound of the dimensions of the nullity spaces of the second fundamental form of \(M\). Clearly, if \(\nu=n\), the submanifold is totally geodesic. In the present paper, the case \(\nu=n-1\) and the ambient space being a symmetric space is studied. It is proved that under the above assumptions, if \(M\) is non totally geodesic and has no planar points, then it is locally a cylinder over one of the following: (a) a surface of nullity one in a totally geodesic submanifold \(M^3\) (which is locally isometric to a product of the real line and a surface of nonzero constant curvature); (b) a devepolable submanifold; (c) a \(k\)-dimensional submanifold of nullity \(k-1\) in a flat totally geodesic submanifold of the ambient space; (d) a smooth curve.