On the shape operator of surfaces in space forms (Q5954160)

The author studies the question of which shape operators carry hyper-surfaces. Most of the results are for the case of a surfaces in space forms. Necessary and sufficient conditions are studied for the existence of surfaces in space forms with prescribed shape operator \(S\). The author considers three cases: that of the non-existence of a solution, the case of a unique solution and that of more than one solution. Examples are given for local and global \(S\)-deformations and \(S\)-rigidity. Special consideration is given to curvature line coordinates and to umbilics. Some special results for the ovaloid are discussed.