Analytic saddle spheres in \mathbb{S}^3 are equatorial

Abstract: A theorem by Almgren establishes that any minimal

2

-sphere immersed in

m a t h b b S^{3}

is a totally geodesic equator. In this paper we give a purely geometric extension of Almgren's result, by showing that any immersed, real analytic

2

-sphere in

m a t h b b S^{3}

that is saddle, i.e., of non-positive extrinsic curvature, must be an equator of

m a t h b b S^{3}

. We remark that, contrary to Almgren's theorem, no geometric PDE is imposed on the surface. The result is not true for

C^{i n f t y}

spheres.

This page was built for publication: Analytic saddle spheres in $\mathbb{S}^3$ are equatorial