Critical curves for the total normal curvature in surfaces of 3-dimensional space forms

Abstract

A variational problem closely related to the bending energy of curves contained in surfaces of real 3-dimensional space forms is considered. We seek curves in a surface which are critical for the total normal curvature energy (and its generalizations). We start by deriving the first variation formula and the corresponding Euler–Lagrange equations of these energies and apply them to study critical special curves (geodesics, asymptotic lines, lines of curvature) on surfaces. Then, we show that a rotation surface in a real space form for which every parallel is a critical curve must be a special type of a linear Weingarten surface. Finally, we give some classification and existence results for this family of rotation surfaces.