Skip to main content
Log in

A Bernstein-type theorem for Riemannian manifolds with a Killing field

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Annals of Global Analysis and Geometry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The classical Bernstein theorem asserts that any complete minimal surface in Euclidean space \(\mathbb{R}^3\) that can be written as the graph of a function on \(\mathbb{R}^2\) must be a plane. In this paper, we extend Bernstein’s result to complete minimal surfaces in (may be non-complete) ambient spaces of non-negative Ricci curvature carrying a Killing field. This is done under the assumption that the sign of the angle function between a global Gauss map and the Killing field remains unchanged along the surface. In fact, our main result only requires the presence of a homothetic Killing field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahlfors L.V. (1935). Sur le type d’une surface de Riemann. C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris 201:30–32

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Chavel I. (1984). Eigenvalues in Riemannian Geometry. Academic Press, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Cheeger, J.: A Lower Bound for the Smaller Eigenvalue of the Laplacian. Problems in Analysis, pp. 195–199, Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, New Jersey (1970)

  4. Cheng S.Y. (1975). Eigenvalue comparison theorems and its geometric applications. Math. Z. 143:289–297

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Chern S.S. (1969). Simple proofs of two theorems in minimal surfaces. Enseign. Math. II. Sr. 15:53–61

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Duc D.M., Hieu N.V. (1995). Graphs with prescribed mean curvature on Poincare disk. Bull. London Math. Soc. 27:353–358

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Huber A. (1957). On subharmonic functions and differential geometry in the large. Comment. Math. Helv. 32:13–72

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Fischer-Colbrie D., Schoen R. (1980). The structure of complete stable minimal surfaces in 3-manifolds of nonnegative scalar curvature. Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 33:199–211

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Fornari S., Ripoll J. (2004). Killing fields, mean curvature, translations maps. Illinois J. of Math. 48:1385–1403

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  10. Li, P.: Curvature and function theory on Riemannian manifolds. Surveys in differential geometry, pp. 375–432, Surv. Differ. Geom., VII, Int. Press, Somerville, MA (2000)

  11. Nelli B., Rosenberg H. (2002). Minimal surfaces in \(\mathbb{H}^2 \times \mathbb{R}\). Bull. Braz. Math. Soc. 33:263–292

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  12. Omori H. (1967). Isometric immersions of Riemannian manifolds. J. Math. Soc. Japan 19:205–214

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  13. Rosenberg H. (1993). Hypersurfaces of constant curvature in space forms. Bull. Sci. Math. 117:211–239

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Rosenberg H. (2002). Minimal surfaces in \(\mathbb{M}^2 \times\mathbb{R}\). Illinois J. Math. 46:1177–1195

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  15. Rosenberg H., Meeks W. (2004). Stable minimal surfaces in \(M\times\mathbb{R}\). J. Differential Geom. 68:515–534

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  16. Salavessa I.M.C. (1989). Graphs with parallel mean curvature. Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 107:449–458

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. Schoen R. (1983). Estimates for stable minimal surfaces in three dimensional manifolds, Annals Math. Studies 103. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis J. Alías.

Additional information

L.J. Alías was partially supported by MEC/FEDER project MTM2004-04934-C04-02, F. Séneca project 00625/PI/04, and F. Séneca grant 01798/EE/05, Spain

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alías, L.J., Dajczer, M. & Ripoll, J. A Bernstein-type theorem for Riemannian manifolds with a Killing field. Ann Glob Anal Geom 31, 363–373 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10455-006-9045-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10455-006-9045-5

Keywords

Mathematics Subject Classifications

Navigation