On stability of a certain minimal submanifold in \(SU(3)/SO(3)\) (Q2367076)

Let \(M\) be a compact symmetric space. It is known that the first conjugate locus \(F_ p(M)\) of \(M\) with respect to \(p\in M\) [see \textit{S. Helgason}, Differential Geometry, Lie groups and symmetric spaces, Academic Press (New York 1978; Zbl 0451.53038)] has a stratification. \textit{H. Tasaki} [Tsukuba J. Math. 9, 117-131 (1985; Zbl 0581.53044)] proved that the maximal dimensional strata \(F^ 0_ p(M)\) is a noncompact minimal submanifold of \(M\) which is stable if \(M\) is a compact connected simple Lie group (stable means that the second variation of the volume is nonnegative, for any variation with compact support). If \(M\) is of rank 1 then \(F^ 0_ p(M)\) is stable [\textit{M. Berger}, Ann, Sci. Éc. Norm. Super. IV. Sér. 5, 1-44 (1972; Zbl 0227.52005)]. The author proves, in the paper under review, the stability of \(F^ 0_ p(M)\) for \(M=SU(3)/SO(3)\). The proof depends mainly on the above mentioned results of Berger and Tasaki; and on calculations involving the roots of the symmetric space \(SU(3)/SO(3)\).