Complete hypersurfaces with \(H_k=0\) in a unit sphere (Q2468466)

This paper characterizes sphere products of the type \(S^1\times S^{n-1}\subset S^{n+1}\) by the following conditions: one of the higher mean curvatures \(H_k\) vanishes \((k< n)\), there are two distinct principal curvatures of multiplicities one and \(n- 1\), and an inequality involving the square norm of the second fundamental form. This extends previous results mentioned in a paper by the author [Monatsh. Math. 149, No. 3, 251--258 (2006; Zbl 1129.53042)]. The key step seems to be the discussion of a second-order ODE for principal curvature of multiplicity \(n- 1\).