On isometric and minimal isometric embeddings

DOI10.1215/S0012-7094-97-08923-7MaRDI QIDQ1373186zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Publication date 29 October 2002

Published in Duke Mathematical Journal (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/dg-ga/9508004

exterior differential systems isometric embedding minimal submanifolds moving frames

Methods of global Riemannian geometry, including PDE methods; curvature restrictions (53C21) Differential geometry of immersions (minimal, prescribed curvature, tight, etc.) (53C42)

Abstract: In this paper we study critial isometric and minimal isometric embeddings of classes of Riemannian metrics which we call {it quasi-

k

-curved metrics}. Quasi-

k

-curved metrics generalize the metrics of space forms. We construct explicit examples and prove results about existence and rigidity.

Review text

This paper is concerned with critial isometric and minimal isometric embeddings of so-called quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved Riemannian manifolds \((M^n,\widetilde{g})\), i.e., manifolds endowed with a metric \(\widetilde{g}\) such that the curvature tensor \(R_x\) at \(x\in M\) has the form \(R_x=-\gamma(Q_x,Q_x)+(\kappa+1) \gamma(\widetilde{g}_x,\widetilde{g}_x)\) where \(Q\) is a positive definite quadratic form on \(M\), \(\kappa\in\mathbb R\) and \(\gamma:S^2T^\ast\to S^2(\Lambda^2T^\ast)\) is the algebraic Gauss map. Quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved manifolds are generalizations of quasi-hyperbolic metrics as defined by \textit{E.~Berger, R.~Bryant} and \textit{P.~Griffiths} [Duke Math. J. 50, 803-892 (1983; Zbl 0526.53018)], which correspond to the case \(\kappa= -1\). Quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved metrics with \(\kappa= 0\) correspond to quasi-flat metrics. The following results are proved: At first, if \((M^n,\widetilde{g})\), \(n\geq 3\), is quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved then there exist local isometric embeddings \(M^n\longrightarrow X^{2n-1}(\kappa+1)\), into the space form of constant sectional curvature \(\kappa + 1\) if and only if \(\nabla Q\) is a symmetric cubic form and \(\nabla Q=L \cdot Q\) for some linear form \(L\in\Omega^1(M)\). These embeddings depend on \(n^2 - n\) functions of one variable. A second result exhibits spacelike submanifolds of the Lorentz space \({\mathbb L}^{n+2}\) as examples of quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved manifolds \(M^n\) satisfying this condition. The rank of an embedding is defined as the dimension of the image of the second fundamental form considered as a linear map form \(S^2T_x^\ast\) to the normal space. For the case of immersions that are both isometric and minimal, the following is stated. 1. If \((M^n,\widetilde{g})\) is a quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved manifold and \(Q\) is \(\widetilde{g}\)-parallel, then \(M\) does not admit any local embedding of rank less than \(n\) into \(X^N(\varepsilon)\), for \(\varepsilon<\kappa\), which is isometric and minimal, or which is isometric with parallel mean curvature vector, except when \(M\) is flat and its image is a piece of the Clifford torus. 2. If an \(n\)-dimensional space form \(M^n(\varepsilon)\) is locally isometrically embedded as a minimal submanifold of constant rank in an \(N\)-dimensional space form \(X^N(\varepsilon)\), then either \(M\) is totally geodesic, or the rank is at least \(n - 1\). If the rank is exactly \(n - 1\), then either \(M\) is totally geodesic or \(M\) is flat and its image is a piece of the Clifford torus \(T^n\subset S^{2n-1}\). 3. Let \(M^n\) be a quasi-\(\kappa\)-curved Riemannian manifold. Let \(l\) be the dimension of the principal orbits of the identity component of the isotropy group of \(M\), at a generic point \(p\in M\), acting on the \(Q\)-orthonormal frames of \(T_p M\). Then the minimal isometric embeddings, and more generally the isometric embeddings with parallel mean curvature vector of \(M\) into a space form \(X^{2n-1}(\kappa+ 1)\) depend, up to rigid motions, on a choice of \({n\choose 2}- l\) constants. Explicit examples of such embeddings are constructed.

Cites work

Cited in

(8)

This page was built for publication: On isometric and minimal isometric embeddings

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1373186)