A solution of the Bonnet pairs problem (Q630238)

In the generic case it is well known (O. Bonnet, 1867) that a surface \(S\subset{\mathbb R}^{3}\) is uniquely determined by the metric and the mean curvature \(H\), but in special cases there may exist incongruent isometric surfaces with coinciding mean curvature (e.g., in the case of minimal surfaces). If \(S\) is a compact surface of genus \(p=0\), then \(S\) is uniquely determined by \(H\) and the metric [\textit{R. de Azevedo Tribuzy}, Bol. Soc. Bras. Mat. 11, No.~2, 259--274 (1980; Zbl 0573.53037)]. \textit{H. B. Lawson} and \textit{R. de Azevedo Tribuzy} [J. Differ. Geom. 16, 179--183 (1981; Zbl 0476.53031)] proved that in the case \(p\geq1\) there exists at most one Bonnet pair (that is, a pair of non-congruent isometric surfaces with the same mean curvature in corresponding points) if \(H\) is non-constant. That means there are no triplets of such surfaces but the question remained open whether or not there exist Bonnet pairs in the last class. This gap is filled by the present paper the main result of which is the following: There exist no Bonnet pairs for compact \(C^4\)-surfaces of genus \(p\geq 1\) with nonconstant mean curvature.