The structure theorem for the cut locus of a certain class of cylinders of revolution. II. (Q498657)

The author generalizes his previous results on the nature of the cut locus of an arbitrary point on a surface of revolution. Take a surface \(M=S^1 \times \mathbb{R}\) with Riemannian metric \(ds^2 = dt^2 + m(t)^2 \, d\theta^2\) and its universal covering space \(\tilde{M}=\mathbb{R}^2\). Suppose that \(m(t)\) is an even smooth function. Consider the geodesic \(t=0\) in \(\tilde{M}\). Suppose further that the cut locus of some point of that geodesic lies entirely on that geodesic and is not empty. Let \(T\) be the supremum value of \(t>0\) at which \(m'(t)<0\). Then the cut locus of any point of \(M\) on which \(t<T\) is the union of the opposite meridian of that point with an arc of the opposite parallel. The author also has some information about cut loci under related conditions.