General curvature estimates for stable H-surfaces immersed into a space form

In this paper, we give general curvature estimates for constant mean curvature surfaces immersed into a simply-connected 3-dimensional space form. We obtain bounds on the norm of the traceless second fundamental form and on the Gaussian curvature at the center of a relatively compact stable geodesic ball (and, more generally, of a relatively compact geodesic ball with stability operator bounded from below). As a by-product, we show that the notions of weak and strong Morse indices coincide for complete non-compact constant mean curvature surfaces. We also derive a geometric proof of the fact that a complete stable surface with constant mean curvature 1 in the usual hyperbolic space must be a horosphere.     

Mean curvature one surfaces in hyperbolic space, and their relationship to minimal surfaces in Euclidean space

We describe local similarities and global differences between minimal surfaces in Euclidean 3-space and constant mean curvature 1 surfaces in hyperbolic 3-space. We also describe how to solve global period problems for constant mean curvature 1 surfaces in hyperbolic 3-space, and we give an overview of recent results on these surfaces. We include computer graphics of a number of examples.     

Spectral transformation of constant mean curvature surfaces in H3 and Weierstrass representation

By using the method of integrable system, we study the deformation of constant mean curvature surfaces in three-dimensional hyperbolic space form H3. We also obtain a Weierstrass representation formula of the constant mean curvature surfaces with mean curvature greater than 1.     

Spectral transformation of constant mean curvature surfaces in H3 and Weierstrass representation

By using the method of integrable system, we study the deformation of constant mean curvature surfaces in three-dimensional hyperbolic space form H₃. We also obtain a Weierstrass representation formula of the constant mean curvature surfaces with mean curvature greater than 1     

Spectral transformation of constant mean curvature surfaces in H3 and Weierstrass representation

By using the method of integrable system, we study the deformation of constant mean curvature surfaces in three-dimensional hyperbolic space form H₃. We also obtain a Weierstrass representation formula of the constant mean curvature surfaces with mean curvature greater than 1     

On Discrete Constant Mean Curvature Surfaces

Recently, a curvature theory for polyhedral surfaces has been established that associates with each face a mean curvature value computed from areas and mixed areas of that face and its corresponding Gaussian image face. Therefore, a study of constant mean curvature (cmc) surfaces requires studying pairs of polygons with some constant nonvanishing value of the discrete mean curvature for all faces. We focus on meshes where all faces are planar quadrilaterals or planar hexagons. We show an incidence geometric characterization of a pair of parallel quadrilaterals having a discrete mean curvature value of ?1. This characterization yields an integrability condition for a mesh being a Gaussian image mesh of a discrete cmc surface. Thus, we can use these geometric results for the construction of discrete cmc surfaces. In the special case where all faces have a circumcircle, we establish a discrete Weierstrass-type representation for discrete cmc surfaces.     

Surfaces with harmonic inverse mean curvature in space forms

We define surfaces with harmonic inverse mean curvature in space forms and generalize a theorem due to Lawson by which surfaces of constant mean curvature in one space form isometrically correspond to those in another. We also obtain an immersion formula, which gives a deformation family for these surfaces.

     

Classification Results for λ-Biminimal Surfaces in 2-Dimensional Complex Space Forms

We completely classify λ-biharmonic slant surfaces and λ-biminimal Lagrangian surfaces in 2-dimensional complex space forms, under the condition that the mean curvature is nonzero constant. In addition, we provide some examples of λ-biminimal slant surfaces with nonzero constant mean curvature, which are neither Lagrangian nor λ-biharmonic.     

A Maximum Principle at Infinity for Surfaces with Constant Mean Curvature in Euclidean Space

Maximum principles at infinity generalize Hopf's maximum principle for hypersurfaces with constant mean curvature in R ⁿ . We establish such a maximum principle for parabolic surfaces in R³ with nonzero constant mean curvature and bounded Gaussian curvature.     

Constant Gaussian Curvature Surfaces with Parallel Mean Curvature Vector in Two-Dimensional Complex Space Forms

We classify constant Gaussian curvature surfaces with nonzero parallel mean curvature vector in two-dimensional complex space forms. As a result, we find new examples of such surfaces.     

Constant Mean Curvature Surfaces Foliated by Circles in Lorentz–Minkowski Space

We prove that a spacelike surface in L3 with nonzero constant mean curvature and foliated by pieces of circles in spacelike planes is a surface of revolution. When the planes containing the circles are timelike or null, examples of nonrotational constant mean curvature surfaces constructed by circles are presented. Finally, we prove that a nonzero constant mean curvature spacelike surface foliated by pieces of circles in parallel planes is a surface of revolution.     

Equilibria for anisotropic surface energies with wetting and line tension

We study the stability of surfaces trapped between two parallel planes with free boundary on these planes. The energy functional consists of anisotropic surface energy, wetting energy, and line tension. Equilibrium surfaces are surfaces with constant anisotropic mean curvature. We study the case where the Wulff shape is of “product form”, that is, its horizontal sections are all homothetic and have a certain symmetry. Such an anisotropic surface energy is a natural generalization of the area of the surface. In particular, we study the stability of parts of anisotropic Delaunay surfaces which arise as equilibrium surfaces. They are surfaces of the same product form of the Wulff shape. We show that, for these surfaces, the stability analysis can be reduced to the case where the surface is axially symmetric and the functional is replaced by an appropriate axially symmetric one. Moreover, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of anisotropic sessile drops.     

Helicoidal surfaces rotating/translating under the mean curvature flow

We describe all possible self-similar motions of immersed hypersurfaces in Euclidean space under the mean curvature flow and derive the corresponding hypersurface equations. Then we present a new two-parameter family of immersed helicoidal surfaces that rotate/translate with constant velocity under the flow. We look at their limiting behaviour as the pitch of the helicoidal motion goes to 0 and compare it with the limiting behaviour of the classical helicoidal minimal surfaces. Finally, we give a classification of the immersed cylinders in the family of constant mean curvature helicoidal surfaces.     

On the uniqueness of the foliation of spheres of constant mean curvature in asymptotically flat 3-manifolds

In this note we study constant mean curvature surfaces in asymptotically flat 3-manifolds. We prove that, outside a given compact subset in an asymptotically flat 3-manifold with positive mass, stable spheres of given constant mean curvature are unique. Therefore we are able to conclude that the foliation of stable spheres of constant mean curvature in an asymptotically flat 3-manifold with positive mass outside a given compact subset is unique.

     

A curvature theory for discrete surfaces based on mesh parallelity

We consider a general theory of curvatures of discrete surfaces equipped with edgewise parallel Gauss images, and where mean and Gaussian curvatures of faces are derived from the faces’ areas and mixed areas. Remarkably these notions are capable of unifying notable previously defined classes of surfaces, such as discrete isothermic minimal surfaces and surfaces of constant mean curvature. We discuss various types of natural Gauss images, the existence of principal curvatures, constant curvature surfaces, Christoffel duality, Koenigs nets, contact element nets, s-isothermic nets, and interesting special cases such as discrete Delaunay surfaces derived from elliptic billiards.     

A Weierstrass representation for linear Weingarten spacelike surfaces of maximal type in the Lorentz-Minkowski space

In this work we extend the Weierstrass representation for maximal spacelike surfaces in the 3-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space to spacelike surfaces whose mean curvature is proportional to its Gaussian curvature (linear Weingarten surfaces of maximal type). We use this representation in order to study the Gaussian curvature and the Gauss map of such surfaces when the immersion is complete, proving that the surface is a plane or the supremum of its Gaussian curvature is a negative constant and its Gauss map is a diffeomorphism onto the hyperbolic plane. Finally, we classify the rotation linear Weingarten surfaces of maximal type.     

A sextic holomorphic form of affine surfaces with constant affine mean curvature

We extend an original idea of Calabi for affine maximal surfaces and define a sextic holomorphic differential form for affine surfaces with constant affine mean curvature. We get some rigidity results for affine complete surfaces by using this sextic holomorphic form. Received: 17 May 2003     

Construction of constant mean curvature <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-noids from holomorphic potentials

Using a Weierstrass type representation of constant mean curvature surfaces, we give a general method for constructing constant mean curvature n-noids (of genus 0) from holomorphic potentials, where n ≥ 3. The ends of these surfaces are embedded and asymptotically approach Delaunay surfaces, while the surfaces are in general not even almost embedded. In particular, a 3-parameter family of constant mean curvature trinoids is constructed. Part of this work was done, while the first named author held a Lehrstuhlvertretung at the University of Augsburg. He would like to thank the University of Augsburg for its hospitality. He would also like to acknowledge partial support by DFG-grant DO 776.     

Generalized surfaces with constant <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis> in Euclidean three-space

Surfaces in Euclidean three-space with constant ratio of mean curvature to Gauss curvature arise naturally as the parallel surfaces to minimal surfaces. They might possess singularities which occur naturally as focal points of minimal surfaces. We study geometric properties and the singularities of such surfaces, prove some global results about them, and provide a Björling formula to construct such surfaces with prescribed point or curve singularities.     

A Bernstein theorem for complete spacelike constant mean curvature hypersurfaces in Minkowski space

We obtain a gradient estimate for the Gauss maps from complete spacelike constant mean curvature hypersurfaces in Minkowski space into the hyperbolic space. As an application, we prove a Bernstein theorem which says that if the image of the Gauss map is bounded from one side, then the spacelike constant mean curvature hypersurface must be linear. This result extends the previous theorems obtained by B. Palmer [Pa] and Y.L. Xin [Xin1] where they assume that the image of the Gauss map is bounded. We also prove a Bernstein theorem for spacelike complete surfaces with parallel mean curvature vector in four-dimensional spaces. Received July 4, 1997 / Accepted October 9, 1997