Submanifolds with Parallel Second Fundamental Form Studied via the Gauss Map

For an arbitrary n-dimensional Riemannian manifold N and an integer m ∈ {1,…,n−1} a covariant derivative on the Grassmann bundle ^ := G_m(T N) is introduced which has the property that an m-dimensional submanifold M ⊂ N has parallel second fundamental form if and only if its Gauss map M → ^ is affine. (For N Rⁿ this result was already obtained by J. Vilms in 1972.) By means of this relation a generalization of Cartan's theorem on the total geodesy of a geodesic umbrella can be derived: Suppose, initial data (p,W,b) prescribing a tangent space W ∈ G_m(T_pN) and a second fundamental form b at p ∈ N are given; for these data we construct an m-dimensional ‘umbrella’ M = M(p,W,b) ⊂ N the rays of which are helical arcs of N; moreover, we present tensorial conditions (not involving ) which guarantee that the umbrella M has parallel second fundamental form. These conditions are as well necessary, and locally every submanifold with parallel second fundamental form can be obtained in this way. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000): 53B25, 53B20, 53B21.