Hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb H^{n+1}\) and conformally invariant equations: the generalized Christoffel and Nirenberg problems (Q843188)

The classical Christoffel problem concerns the existence of hypersurfaces in the Euclidean space with prescribed Gauss map and prescribed mean curvature. A natural extension of the problem to other space forms is a subtle question due to the fact that the classical Gauss map is not available on these spaces. In the first part of the paper under review, the authors give, by using the hyperbolic Gauss map and the notion of hyperbolic curvature radii for hypersurfaces, a natural formulation of the Christoffel problem for hypersurfaces in the hyperbolic space \(\mathbb{H} ^{n+1}\). Then, they provide an explicit quasi-equivalence between the Christoffel problem in the hyperbolic setting and the problem of prescribing the scalar curvature on \(\mathbb{S}^n\) for conformal metrics (Nirenberg-Kazdan-Warner's problem). The construction not only allows the translation into the hyperbolic setting of well known results for the scalar curvature problem, but also provides an interpretation of an intrinsic matter of conformal geometry such as the Nirenberg problem, in terms of the theory of submanifolds. Then, in a more general setting, the authors try to prescribe the hyperbolic Gauss map and a given function of the hyperbolic curvature radii in \( \mathbb{H}^{n+1}\). They show that this generalized Christoffel problem is equivalent to prescribing a functional of the eigenvalues of the Schouten tensor for conformal metrics \(g = e^{2\rho}g_0\) on \(\mathbb{S}^n\) (under the regularity condition that \(g - 2Schg\) is positive definite, where \(Schg\) is the Schouten tensor). A consequence of this result is that the theory of locally conformally flat Riemannian manifolds can be identified to a large extent with the local theory of hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{H}^{n+1}\) with prescribed regular hyperbolic Gauss map. In the final part of the paper, they give some concrete application of this relationship between compact hypersurfaces in \(\mathbb{H}^{n+1}\) with regular hyperbolic Gauss map and conformal metrics on \(\mathbb{S}^n\). In particular, they prove that round spheres can be characterized as the only compact Weingarten hypersurfaces in the hyperbolic space for a certain family of Weingarten functionals, and also a similar characterization for horospheres among immersed oriented hypersurfaces with one regular end is obtained. Finally, they show how to use the above relationship to induce results in conformal geometry using the theory of hypersurfaces.