On the nullity distribution of the second fundamental form of a submanifold of a space form

2011/03/04 by Vittone, Francisco
#Differential Geometry (math.DG) #FOS: Mathematics

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1103.0918

Abstract

If M is a submanifold of a space form, the nullity distribution N of its second fundamental form is (when defined) the common kernel of its shape operators. In this paper we will give a local description of any submanifold of the Euclidean space by means of its nullity distribution. We will also show the following global result: if M is a complete, irreducible submanifold of the Euclidean space or the sphere then N is completely non integrable. This means that any two points in M can be joined by a curve everywhere perpendicular to N. We will finally show that this statement is false for a submanifold of the hyperbolic space.

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