In this paper we solve the Plateau problem for spacelike surfaces with constant mean curvature in Lorentz-Minkowski three-space $ł^3$ and spanning two circular (axially symmetric) contours in parallel planes. We prove that rotational symmetric surfaces are the only compact spacelike surfaces in $ł^3$ of constant mean curvature bounded by two concentric circles in parallel planes. As conclusion, we characterize spacelike surfaces of revolution with constant mean curvature as the only that either i) are the solutions of the exterior Dirichlet problem for constant boundary data or ii) have an isolated conical-type singularity.
A world sheet in Lorentz-Minkowski space is a timelike submanifold consisting of a one-parameter family of spacelike submanifolds in Lorentz-Minkowski space. In this paper we investigate differential geometry of world sheets in Lorentz-Minkowski space as an application of the theory of big wave fronts.
For a regular curve on a spacelike surface in Lorentz-Minkowski $3$-space, we have a moving frame along the curve which is called a Lorentzian Darboux frame. We introduce five special vector fields along the curve associated to the Lorentzian Darboux frame and investigate their singularities.
We study nonorientable maximal surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space. We prove some existence results for surfaces of this kind with high genus and one end.
In this paper we deal with the uniqueness of the Lorentzian helicoid and Enneper's surface among properly embedded maximal surfaces with lightlike boundary of mirror symmetry in the Lorentz-Minkowski space L3.
We construct triply periodic zero mean curvature surfaces of mixed type in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space, with the same topology as the triply periodic minimal surfaces in the Euclidean 3-space, called Schwarz rPD surfaces.
We study an area minimization problem for spacelike zero mean curvature surfaces in four dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space. The areas of these surfaces are compared of with the areas of certain marginally trapped surfaces having the same boundary values.
In 3-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space we determine the number of catenoids connecting two coaxial circles in parallel planes. This study is separated according to the types of circles and the causal character (spacelike and timelike) of the catenoid.
We construct embedded triply periodic zero mean curvature surfaces of mixed type in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space with the same topology as the Schwarz D surface in the Euclidean 3-space.
We investigate the differences and similarities of the Dirichlet problem of the mean curvature equation in the Euclidean space and in the Lorentz-Minkowski space. Although the solvability of the Dirichlet problem follows standards techniques of elliptic equations, we focus in showing how the spacelike condition in the Lorentz-Minkowski space allows to drop the hypothesis on the mean convexity which is required in the Euclidean case.
The geometry and topology of complete nonorientable maximal surfaces with lightlike singularities in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space are studied. Some topological congruence formulae for surfaces of this kind are obtained. As a consequence, some existence and uniqueness results for maximal Moebius strips and maximal Klein bottles with one end are proved.
In this paper, we study Lorentzian hypersurfaces in Minkowski 5-space with non-diagonalizable shape operator whose characteristic polinomial is $(t-k_1)^2(t-k_3)(t-k_4)$ or $(t-k_1)^3(t-k_4)$. We proved that in these cases, a hypersurface is biharmonic if and only if it is minimal.
We investigate a variational problem in the Lorentz-Minkowski space $ł^3$ whose critical points are spacelike surfaces with constant mean curvature and making constant contact angle with a given support surface along its common boundary. We show that if the support surface is a pseudosphere, then the surface is a planar disc or a hyperbolic cap. We also study the problem of spacelike hypersurfaces with free boundary in the higher dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space $ł^{n+1}$.
In this paper, we introduce the pseudo-torsion functions along spacelike curves whose curvature vector field has isolated lightlike points in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space, and prove the fundamental theorem. Moreover, we analyze the behavior of the torsion function at such points. As a corollary, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for real analytic spacelike curves to be planar.
We introduce a new approach to the study of timelike minimal surfaces in the Lorentz-Minkowski space through a split-complex representation formula for this kind of surface. As applications, we solve the Björling problem for timelike surfaces and obtain interesting examples and related results. Using the Björling representation, we also obtain characterizations of minimal timelike surfaces of revolution as well as of minimal ruled timelike surfaces in the Lorentz-Minkowsi space.
Isophote curve consists of a locus of surface points whose normal vectors make a constant angle with a fixed vector (the axis). In this paper, we define an isophote curve on a spacelike surface in Lorentz-Minkowski space and then find its axis as timelike and spacelike vectors via the Darboux frame. Besides, we give some characterizations concerning isophote curve and its axis.
We review part of the classical theory of curves and surfaces in $3$-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space. We focus in spacelike surfaces with constant mean curvature pointing the differences and similarities with the Euclidean space.
We introduce the totally absolute lightcone curvature for a spacelike submanifold with general codimension and investigate global properties of this curvature. One of the consequences is that the Chern-Lashof type inequality holds. Then the notion of lightlike tightness is naturally induced.
In this paper, we examine timelike loxodromes on three kinds of Lorentzian helicoidal surfaces in Minkowski $n$--space. First, we obtain the first order ordinary differential equations which determine timelike loxodromes on the Lorentzian helicoidal surfaces in $\mathbb{E}^n_1$ according to the causal characters of their meridian curves. Then, by finding general solutions, we get the explicit parametrizations of such timelike loxodromes. In particular, we investigate the timelike loxodromes on the three kinds of Lorentzian right helicoidal surfaces in $\mathbb{E}^n_1$. Finally, we give an exam…
In this paper, under suitable settings, we can obtain the existence and uniqueness of solutions to a class of Hessian quotient equations with Dirichlet boundary condition in Lorentz-Minkowski space $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_{1}$, which can be seen as a prescribed curvature problem and a continuous work of [12].
In this paper, we will give an Enneper-type representation for spacelike and timelike minimal surfaces in the Lorentz-Minkowski space $L^{3}$, using the complex and the paracomplex analysis (respectively). Then, we exhibit various examples of minimal surfaces in $L^{3}$ constructed via the Enneper representation formula, that it is equivalent to the Weierstrass representation obtained by Kobayashi (for spacelike immersions) and by Konderak (for the timelike ones).
Calabi's Bernstein-type theorem asserts that a zero mean curvature entire graph in Lorentz-Minkowski space $\boldsymbol L^3$ which admits only space-like points is a space-like plane. Using the fluid mechanical duality between minimal surfaces in Euclidean 3-space $\boldsymbol E^3$ and maximal surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski space $\boldsymbol L^3$, we give an improvement of this Bernstein-type theorem. More precisely, we show that a zero mean curvature entire graph in $\boldsymbol L^3$ which does not admit time-like points (namely, a graph consists of only space-like and light-like points) is a…
Consider the Lorentz-Minkowski $3$-space $\mathbb{L}^3$ with the metric $dx^2+dy^2-dz^2$ in canonical coordinates $(x,y,z)$. A surface in $\mathbb{L}^3$ is said to be separable if satisfies an equation of the form $f(x)+g(y)+h(z)=0$ for some smooth functions $f$, $g$ and $h$ defined in open intervals of the real line. In this article we classify all zero mean curvature surfaces of separable type, providing a method of construction of examples.
Space-like maximal surfaces and time-like minimal surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski3-space are both characterized as zero mean curvature surfaces. We are interested in the case where the zero mean curvature surface changes type from space-like to time-like at a given non-degenerate null curve. We consider this phenomenon and its interesting connection to 2-dimensional fluid mechanics in this expository article.
Riemann zero mean curvature examples in the Lorentz-Minkowski space are surfaces with zero mean curvature foliated by circles contained in parallel planes. In contrast to the Euclidean case, this family of surfaces presents new and rich features because of the variety of types of circles. In this paper, we give a geometric description of these examples when the circles are contained in spacelike planes and timelike planes.
In this paper, we can obtain curvature estimates for spacelike admissible graphic hypersurfaces in the $(n+1)$-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_{1}$, and through which the existence of spacelike admissible graphic hypersurfaces, with prescribed $2$-th Weingarten curvature and Dirichlet boundary data, defined over a strictly convex domain in the hyperbolic plane $\mathscr{H}^{n}(1)\subset\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_{1}$ of center at origin and radius $1$, can be proven.
We show that, up to some natural normalizations, the moduli space of singly periodic complete embedded maximal surfaces in the Lorentz-Minkowski space $ł^3=(\r^3,dx_1^2+dx_2^2-dx_3^2),$ with fundamental piece having a finite number $(n+1)$ of singularities, is a real analytic manifold of dimension $3n+4.$ The underlying topology agrees with the topology of uniform convergence of graphs on compact subsets of $\{x_3=0\}.$
A connected regular surface in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space is called a mixed type surface if the spacelike, timelike and lightlike point sets are all non-empty. Lightlike points on mixed type surfaces may be regarded as singular points of the induced metrics. In this paper, we introduce the L-Gauss map around non-degenerate lightlike points, and show the fundamental theorem of surface theory for mixed type surfaces at non-degenerate lightlike points. As an application, we prove that a real analytic mixed type surface admits non-trivial isometric deformations around generic lightlike points.
A zero mean curvature surface in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space is said to be of Riemann-type if it is foliated by circles and at most countably many straight lines in parallel planes. We classify all zero mean curvature surfaces of Riemann-type according to their causal characters, and as a corollary, we prove that if a zero mean curvature surface of Riemann-type has exactly two causal characters, then the lightlike part of the surface is a part of a straight line.
On any spacelike surface in a lightcone of four dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space a distinguished smooth function is considered. It is shown how both extrinsic and intrinsic geometry of such a surface is codified by this function. The existence of a local maximum is assumed to decide when the spacelike surface must be totally umbilical, deriving a Liebmann type result. Two remarkable families of examples of spacelike surfaces in a lightcone are explicitly constructed. Finally, several results which involve the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator of a compact spacelike surface in a light…
We prove that maximal annuli in $\mathbb{L}^{3}$ bounded by circles, straight lines or cone points in a pair of parallel spacelike planes are part of either a Lorentzian catenoid or a Lorentzian Riemann's example. We show that under the same boundary condition, the same conclusion holds even when the maximal annuli have a planar end. Moreover, we extend Shiffman's convexity result to maximal annuli but by using Perron's method we construct a maximal annulus with a planar end where Shiffman type result fails.
The Jorge-Meeks $n$-noid ($n\ge 2$) is a complete minimal surface of genus zero with $n$ catenoidal ends in the Euclidean 3-space $\boldsymbol{R}^3$, which has $(2π/n)$-rotation symmetry with respect to its axis. In this paper, we show that the corresponding maximal surface $f_n$ in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space $\boldsymbol{R}^3_1$ has an analytic extension $\tilde f_n$ as a properly embedded zero mean curvature surface. The extension changes type into a time-like (minimal) surface.
In this paper, we investigate the evolution of spacelike curves in Lorentz-Minkowski plane $\mathbb{R}^{2}_{1}$ along prescribed geometric flows (including the classical curve shortening flow or mean curvature flow as a special case), which correspond to a class of quasilinear parabolic initial boundary value problems, and can prove that this flow exists for all time. Moreover, we can also show that the evolving spacelike curves converge to a spacelike straight line or a spacelike Grim Reaper curve as time tends to infinity.
It is classically known that the only zero mean curvature entire graphs in the Euclidean 3-space are planes, by Bernstein's theorem. A surface in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space $\boldsymbol{R}^3_1$ is called of mixed type if it changes causal type from space-like to time-like. In $\boldsymbol{R}^3_1$, Osamu Kobayashi found two zero mean curvature entire graphs of mixed type that are not planes. As far as the authors know, these two examples were the only known examples of entire zero mean curvature graphs of mixed type without singularities. In this paper, we construct several families of real anal…
Consider a surface $S$ immersed in the Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space $\boldsymbol R^3_1$. A complete light-like line in $\boldsymbol R^3_1$ is called an entire null line on the surface $S$ in $\boldsymbol R^3_1$ if it lies on $S$ and consists of only null points with respect to the induced metric. In this paper, we show the existence of embedded space-like maximal graphs containing entire null lines. If such a graph is defined on a convex domain in $\boldsymbol R^2$, then it must be a light-like plane. Our example is critical in the sense that it is defined on a certain non-convex domain.
A surface in the Lorentz-Minkowski $3$-space is generally a mixed type surface, namely, it has the lightlike locus. We study local differential geometric properties of such a locus on a mixed type surface. We define a frame field along a lightlike locus, and using it, we define two lightlike ruled surfaces along a lightlike locus which can be regarded as lightlike approximations of the surface along the lightlike locus. We study a relationship of singularities of these lightlike surfaces and differential geometric properties of the lightlike locus. We also consider the intersection curve of tw…
In Lorentz-Minkowski space, we prove that the conjugate surface of a maximal graph over a convex domain is also a graph. We provide three proofs of this result that show a suitable correspondence between maximal surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski space and minimal surfaces in Euclidean space.
Calabi and Cheng-Yau's Bernstein-type theorem asserts that an entire zero mean curvature graph in Lorentz-Minkowski $(n+1)$-space $\boldsymbol R^{n+1}_1$ which admits only space-like points is a hyperplane. Recently, the third and fourth authors proved a line theorem for hypersurfaces at their degenerate light-like points. Using this, we give an improvement of the Bernstein-type theorem, and we show that an entire zero mean curvature graph in $\boldsymbol R^{n+1}_1$ consisting only of space-like or light-like points is a hyperplane. This is a generalization of the first, third and fourth autho…
For a compact spacelike constant mean curvature surface with nonempty boundary in the three-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space, we introduce a rotation index of the lines of curvature at the boundary umbilic point, which was developed by Choe \cite{Choe}. Using the concept of the rotation index at the interior and boundary umbilic points and applying the Poincaré-Hopf index formula, we prove that a compact immersed spacelike disk type capillary surface with less than $4$ vertices in a domain of $\Bbb L^3$ bounded by (spacelike or timelike) totally umbilic surfaces is part of a (spacelike) pla…
Lecture notes from the mini-course "Topics in Lorentz Geometry" taught at the University of São Paulo, in March/2019. The text has three parts: (i) an overall view of linear algebra in the pseudo-Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^n_ν$, with focus on Lorentz-Minkowski space and its role in Physics; (ii) a version of the Fundamental Theorem of Curves in 3-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space, with adaptations to curves with degenerate osculating plane; (iii) the problem of the diagonalization of the Weingarten map for timelike surfaces, local classification of surfaces with constant Gaussian curvature …
In this paper, we consider the evolution of spacelike graphic hypersurfaces defined over a convex piece of hyperbolic plane $\mathscr{H}^{n}(1)$, of center at origin and radius $1$, in the $(n+1)$-dimensional Lorentz-Minkowski space $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_{1}$ along the inverse mean curvature flow with the vanishing Neumann boundary condition, and prove that this flow exists for all the time. Moreover, we can show that, after suitable rescaling, the evolving spacelike graphic hypersurfaces converge smoothly to a piece of hyperbolic plane of center at origin and prescribed radius, which actually cor…
