No label defined (Q4348149)

The author studies the following problem: For which functions \(K\) on \(\mathbb{R}^{n+1}\) exists an embedded compact hypersurface \(M\) such that its Gauss-Kronecker curvature at \(x \in M\) is equal to \(K(x)\)? Problems of this type have been studied extensively during the last years. At first the author gives (Theorem 0.1) an extension of the following well-known result of A. D. Alexandrov: any connected compact embedded hypersurface in \(\mathbb{R}^{n+1}\) with constant mean curvature must be a sphere. This extension shows (Corollary 0.2) that, if \(K\) is strictly monotone in one direction, there does not exist such \(M\). On the other hand, if \(G\) is some subgroup of the orthogonal transformation group \(O(n+1)\) of \(\mathbb{R}^{n+1}\), without fixed point, \(K\) is \(G\)-invariant and bounded below and above by positive constants, then there exists such \(M\) (Theorem 0.2). In order to prove this existence result, the author makes appropriate a priori estimates and then uses the degree theory for second order fully nonlinear elliptic operators. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0865.00044].