Minimal hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{S}^5\) with constant scalar curvature and zero Gauss curvature (Q6887589)

The article provides a support for the strong version of the Chern conjecture, according to which a closed immersed minimal hypersurface \(M^n\) in \(\mathbb{S}^{n+1}\) with constant scalar curvature must be isoparametric. Specifically, for the case of \(n=4\) and vanishing Gauss curvature, a minimal isoparametric hypersurface must be totally geodesic. This leads to the question of whether a closed minimal hypersurface with constant scalar curvature and zero Gauss curvature is also totally geodesic. In this respect, the authors prove the following affirmative answer: If \(M^n\) is a closed minimal hypersurface in \(\mathbb{S}^{n+1}\) with constant scalar curvature and zero Gauss curvature, then \(M^n\) is totally geodesic. It is emphasized that without the assumption of constant scalar curvature, there are many non-totally geodesic minimal hypersurfaces in a unit sphere with zero Gauss curvature, according, e.g., to [\textit{J. Ramanathan}, Math. Z. 205, No. 4, 645--658 (1990; Zbl 0694.53054)].