Divisibility of the second fundamental form of hypersurfaces of space forms (Q2519368)

Let \((M^n,g)\) be a hypersurface a space form \((\tilde{M}^{n+1})(k)\). If \(\nabla\) is the Levi-Civita connection of \(M\), \(h\) is the second fundamental form, then the cubic form \(C(X,X,X) = (\nabla_Xh)(X,X)\) is divisible by the metric, denoted by \(g\mid C,\) if there exist a one-form \(\rho\) such that \[ C(X,X,X) = 3\rho(X)g(X,X), \] for any vector field \(X\). This generalizes the class of parallel hypersurfaces (that is \(\nabla h = 0).\) In this paper the authors determine when the cubic form of a hypersurface in a space form is divisible by the metric. More exactly, it is proved that apart from parallel hypersurfaces the only \(g\mid C\)-hypersurfaces in space forms are certain rotational hypersurfaces.