Complete minimal submanifolds with nullity in Euclidean spheres (Q1989598)

Let \(M^n\) be a complete \(m\)-dimensional Riemannian manifold. In [Math. Z. 287, No. 1--2, 481--491 (2017; Zbl 1377.53008)], the authors of the present work investigated conditions on minimal isometric immersions of complete manifolds \(f:M^m\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^n\) of index of relative nullity at least \(m-2\) that imply that the immersion is \textit{trivial}, namely just a \((m-2)\)-cylinder over a complete minimal surface. They prove that this is the case if the Omori-Yau maximum principle holds on \(M^m\). In the paper under review, the authors consider the similar problem in the case of minimal isometric immersions into round spheres, proving the following very interesting result: Theorem. Let \(f:M^m\rightarrow \mathbb{S}^n\), \(m\geq 3\), be a minimal isometric immersion with index of relative nullity at least \(m-2\) at any point. If \(M^m\) is complete then \(f\) is totally geodesic unless \(m=3\). Moreover, if the Omori-Yau maximum principle holds on \(M^3\) then along an open dense subset \(f\) is locally parametrized by the map \(\psi_g: T^1L\rightarrow \mathbb{S}^n\) defined on the unit tangent bundle of \(L^2\) by \[ \psi_g(x,w)=g_*w \] where \(g: L^2\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{n+1}\) is a minimal surface whose first curvature ellipse is always a circle.