The Gauss map of surfaces in \(\mathbb R^ n\) (Q791165)

Let \(S_ 0\) be a Riemann surface, and denote by \(G_{2,n}\) the Grassmannian of oriented 2-planes in Euclidean \(n\)-space \({\mathbb{R}^ n\). The authors derive necessary and sufficient conditions that (in the generic case) for a given map \(G: S_ 0\to G_{2,n}\) there exists an oriented surface \(S\) immersed into \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\) and a conformal immersion \(X:S_ 0\to S\) such that \(G\) arises as \(G=g{\mathbb{O}}X\), where \(g:S\to G_{2,n}\) is the generalized Gauss map of \(S\). As for the question of uniqueness it is proved: Suppose \(X:S_ 0\to {\mathbb{R}}^ n\) is a conformal non-minimal immersion with Gauss map \(G\), then \(X\) is determined uniquely by \(G\), up to translation and homothety. A representation theorem for non-minimal surfaces in \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\) in terms of their Gauss maps is treated. \(G_{2,4}\) being isometrically and biholomorphically equivalent to a product \(S_ 1\times S_ 2\) of two 2-spheres, in case \(n=4\) the necessary conditions take a particularly simple form and may be directly applied to a number of geometric problems, for example: If one of the factors of \(G=(g_ 1,g_ 2): S_ 0\to S_ 1\times S_ 2\) is anti-holomorphic, then they both are, and the corresponding surface is minimal.