A new invariant equation for umbilical points on real hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{C}^2\) and applications (Q2283341)

\textit{S. S. Chern} and \textit{J. K. Moser} [Acta Math. 133 (1974), 219--271 (1975; Zbl 0302.32015)] proved that a strictly pseudoconvex hypersurface in \({\mathbb C}^{n+1}\) locally has infinitely many formal invariants. In particular, it can be locally written as \[ \operatorname{Im} w = \sum_{j=1}^n \lvert z_j \rvert^2 + R_m(z,\bar{z}) + O(m+1) , \] where \(R_m\) is a homogeneous polynomial of degree \(m=6\) if \(n+1=2\) (that is, in \({\mathbb C}^2\)) and \(m=4\) if \(n+1 > 2\). In this paper, the authors are interested in the \({\mathbb C}^2\) situation which is more difficult than in higher dimensions. In two variables, \(R_6\) has the form \(c_{24} z^2\bar{z}^4 + \overline{c_{24}} z^4 \bar{z}^2\), and the constant represents what is called the ``E.\ Cartan's 6th order invariant.'' One says that a point is ``umbilical'' if \(c_{24}=0\). Importantly, \(c_{24}=0\) in the case of the sphere. A basic question that has recently been answered by \textit{P. Ebenfelt} et al. [Math. Res. Lett. 25, No. 1, 75--84 (2018; Zbl 1408.32033)] is the existence of hypersurfaces with no umbilical points. However, it is still an open question if such a hypersurface can be diffeomorphic to the sphere. Interestingly, there exist non-embeddable compact abstract strictly pseudoconvex CR manifolds of dimension 3 with the sphere topology and no umbilical points. Furthermore, when \(n+1 > 2\), a generic real ellipsoid does not contain any umbilical points [\textit{S. M. Webster}, Duke Math. J. 104, No. 3, 463--475 (2000; Zbl 0971.32019)], and when \(n+1=2\), every real ellipsoid has at least 4 umbilical points [\textit{X. Huang} and \textit{S. Ji}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 359, No. 3, 1191--1204 (2007; Zbl 1122.32027)]. With these questions in mind, the authors introduce a new sequence of invariants. The lowest order invariant represents \(c_{24}\). This new invariant extends regularly to Levi-degenerate points of \(M\), where it vanishes. Therefore one obtains a function of the same regularity as the manifold that vanishes either at Levi-degenerate points or at points that are Levi-nondegenerate and umbilical. In particular, if the manifold is real-analytic (resp.\ real-algebraic) this proves that this set is a real-analytic (resp.\ real-algebraic) subvariety. The authors then consider certain perturbation of the sphere. In particular, they prove that almost circular perturbations of the sphere always contain curves of umbilical points.