A characteristic property of the Euclidean plane (Q2533365)

Let \(R\) be a Riemannian manifold and let \(M\) be a compact orientable hypersurface of \(M\) (possibly with boundary). Fixing one side of \(M\), consider the set \(M_\varepsilon\) of points lying on geodesics normal to \(M\) at distance \(\varepsilon\) from \(M\). For all \(\varepsilon\) sufficiently small, \(M_\varepsilon\) is a hypersurface of \(\overline M\) diffeomorphic to \(M\). Let \(A(\varepsilon)\) be the volume of \(M_\varepsilon\) and let \(\Phi(\varepsilon) = A(\varepsilon) - A(0)\). Theorem. \(\Phi\) is a linear function of \(\varepsilon\) for all compact orientable hypersurfaces if and only if \(\overline M\) is locally isometric to the Euclidean plane. The proof involves computing the second variation of volume of the \(M_\varepsilon\)'s. This theorem poses the question of characterizing Euclidean \(n\)-space as the only Riemannian manifold for which \(\Phi\) is a polynomial of degree exactly \(n\).