Results of Liouville type for symphonic maps (Q2423733)

Let $(M, g)$, $(N, h)$ be Riemannian manifolds, and let $f:M\to N$ be a smooth map and $f^*(h)$ be the pullback of the metric $h$ on $N$. We consider the functional or the symphonic energy $E_{\mathrm{sym}}(f)=\int_M||f^*(h)||^2dv_g$. The symphonic energy $E_{\mathrm{sym}}(f)$ is related to the energy $E(f)$ in the theory of harmonic maps since the functional $E_{\mathrm{sym}}(f)$ is an integral of the norm of the pullback $f^*(h)$, while the energy $E(f)$ is an integral of the trace of the pullback $f^*(h)$. Stationary maps for the functional $E_{\mathrm{sym}}(f)$ are called symphonic maps. In this paper the authors prove the following two theorems of Liouville type. \par Theorem 1 (Compact case). Let $M$ be a compact connected Riemannian manifold. Suppose that the Ricci curvature of $M$ is non-negative, and that the sectional curvature of $N$ is non-positive. Let $f$ be any symphonic map of class $C^3$. Then \par (a) The pullback $f^*(h)$ is parallel, i.e., $\nabla(f^*h)=0$. \par (b) If the Ricci curvature of $M$ is positive definite at a point, then $f$ is a constant map. \par (c) If $N$ has negative sectional curvature everywhere, then either $f$ is a constant map or $df(x)$ has at most rank one for all $x\in M$. \par Theorem 2 (Non-compact case). Let $M$ be a complete connected non-compact Riemannian manifold. Suppose that the Ricci curvature of $M$ is non-negative, and that the sectional curvature of $N$ is non-positive. If the symphonic energy of a symphonic map $f$ of class $C^3$ is finite, i.e., $E_{\mathrm{sym}}(f)<\infty$, then $f$ is a constant map.