An Arzela-Ascoli theorem for immersed submanifolds (Q954080)

In [Am. J. Math. 92, 61--74 (1970; Zbl 0194.52902)], \textit{J. Cheeger} showed that for any given positive real numbers \(K\), \(\varepsilon\), and \(R\), there exist only finitely many homeomorphism classes of complete manifolds of a given dimension with absolute value of sectional curvature bounded above by \(K\), injectivity radius bounded below by \(\varepsilon\), and diameter bounded above by \(R\). In [Geom. Dedicata 33, No. 2, 153--161 (1990; Zbl 0717.53035)], \textit{K. Corlette} proved an analogous result for immersions of compact manifolds into a fixed Riemannian manifold. For given positive real numbers \(K\), \(R\), and a given compact manifold \(M\), there exist only finitely many \(C^ 1\) isotopy classes of complete immersed submanifolds of \(M\) such that the norm of the second fundamental form is bounded above by \(K\) and the diameter is bounded above by \(R\). This result no longer requires the condition on the injectivity radius of the immersed submanifold. Following the philosophy of Cheeger's finiteness theorem, one would expect that this result should also arise from a compactness result for immersed submanifolds. The compactness result obtained in this way bears a perfect analogy to the classical Arzela-Ascoli theorem for families of functions depending on bounds on the derivatives of functions. In this paper, the author proves an analogous compactness result for families of immersed submanifolds which depends only on bounds on the derivatives of the second fundamental forms of these submanifolds.