Some examples of critical points for the total mean curvature functional

Abstract

AbstractWe study the following problem: establish existence and classification of closed curves which are critical points for the total curvature functional, defined on spaces of curves in a Riemannian manifold. This problem is completely solved in a real space form. Next, we give examples of critical points for this functional in a class of metrics with constant scalar curvature on the three sphere. Also, we obtain a rational one-parameter family of closed helices which are critical points for that functional in ℂℙ2 (4) when it is endowed with its usual Kaehlerian structure. Finally, we use the principle of symmetric criticality to get equivariant submanifolds, constructed on the above curves, which are critical points for the total mean curvature functional.