A characterization of minimal surfaces in the Lorentz group \(L^3\) (Q2910696)

Following the argument developed in [\textit{R. R. Montes} and \textit{J. A. Verderesi}, Monatsh. Math. 157, No. 4, 379--386 (2009; Zbl 1171.53050)] to study minimal surfaces in \(S^3\), in this paper the contact angle for a surface in the three-dimensional Lorentz group \(L^3\) is defined as the complementary angle between the contact distribution and the tangent plane.NEWLINENEWLINEConsidering a minimal surface of \(L^3\), a formula for the Gauss curvature is derived in terms of the contact angle. In particular, this formula shows that a minimal surface of \(L^3\) with constant contact angle has nonpositive Gaussian curvature.NEWLINENEWLINEAn equation for the Laplacian of the contact angle function is also derived. For any solution of such an equation, there is a corresponding minimal immersion of the surface in \(L^3\).