Total torsion of three-dimensional lines of curvature (Q6093593)

A classical theorem in differential geometry states that the total torsion of a smooth regular space curve \(\gamma\) in the unit sphere vanishes. More generally, \textit{Y.-a. Qin} and \textit{S.-j. Li} [Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 65, No. 1, 73--78 (2002; Zbl 1008.53007)] showed that if \(\gamma\) is a closed line of curvature on an oriented surface \(S \subset \mathbb{R}^3\), then its total torsion is an integer multiple of \(2\pi\). Conversely, every closed curve in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) whose total torsion is an integer multiple of \(2\pi\) appears as a curvature line on a suitable surface \(S \subset \mathbb{R}^3\). The purpose of this article is to generalize these results to curves on an arbitrary Riemannian manifold \(M\). Some results for elliptic and hyperbolic \(3\)-space can be found in [\textit{C. C. Pansonato} and \textit{S. I. R. Costa}, Geom. Dedicata 136, 111--121 (2008; Zbl 1153.53036)]. It is crucial to precisely capture the notion of a ``three-dimensional curve'', basically via the vanishing of higher-order torsions. Moreover, principal normal, torsion vector, and surface normal should be co-planar (the curve should be ``well-positioned'' with respect to the surface). In this case, the following statements hold true: (1) The total torsion of a well-positioned closed line of curvature on an oriented hypersurface \(S\) of \(M\) is an integer multiple of \(2\pi\); (2) The total torsion vanishes if \(S\) is convex; (3) For every closed curve \(\gamma\) whose total torsion is an integer multiple of \(2\pi\) there exists a suitable hypersurface \(S\) of \(M\) on which \(\gamma\) is a well-positioned line of curvature. These results are actually obtained as corollaries of more general statements where curvatures and torsions are defined with respect to an arbitrary unit normal vector field.