On Non-degenerate Null Normal Sections of Codimension Two Spacelike Surfaces

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a formula for spacelike surfaces in a four-dimensional Lorentzian space form which involves its mean curvature vector field, the Gauss curvature of the induced metric and the Gauss curvature of the second fundamental form associated to a non-degenerate null normal section. By means of this formula, we establish several sufficient conditions for a compact spacelike surface in a four-dimensional Lorentzian space form which has a null umbilical normal direction. As another application, we give a new proof of Liebmann rigidity theorems in Euclidean, hemispherical, hyperbolic spaces and in the De Sitter spacetime.