Closed minimal hypersurfaces in \({\mathbb{S}}^5\) with constant \(S\) and \(A_3\) (Q6940423)

The authors study closed minimal hypersurfaces \(M^4\) immersed in the unit sphere \(S^5\) with constant \(S := \sum_{i=1}^4 \lambda_i^2\) and \(A_3 := \sum_{i=1}^4 \lambda_i^3\), where \(\lambda_i\) denote the principal curvatures.\N\NThe main result (Theorem~1.3) establishes that if the scalar curvature \(R_M\) is nonnegative, then \(M^4\) is necessarily isoparametric with \(S \in \{0, 4, 12\}\), corresponding respectively to an equatorial 4-sphere, a Clifford torus, or a Cartan minimal hypersurface.\N\NA second result (Theorem~1.4) shows that if at some point there exist exactly two distinct principal curvatures, then \(S = 4\), \(A_3 = 0\) and \(M^4\) is a Clifford torus, without any sign assumption on \(R_M\).\N\NThese theorems generalize previous results of \textit{S. C. de Almeida} and \textit{F. G. B. Brito} [Duke Math. J. 61, No.~1, 195--206 (1990; Zbl 0723.53038)] for \(n = 3\), and of \textit{T. Lusala} et al. [Asian J. Math. 9, No.~1, 65--78 (2005; Zbl 1084.53051)] for Willmore hypersurfaces (\(A_3 = 0\)).\N\NThe proof relies on the construction of an innovative auxiliary function \(K\) that avoids singularities related to multiplicities of principal curvatures, the use of differential forms and Stokes' theorem, and a detailed analysis of the structure equations on the open set \(\{K > 0\}\).\N\NThe work contributes to Chern's conjectures on the discreteness and isoparametric character of minimal hypersurfaces with constant scalar curvature in spheres.