Principal lines on surfaces immersed with constant mean curvature

Abstract

Configurations of lines of principal curvature on constant mean curvature immersed surfaces are studied. Analytical models for these configurations near general isolated umbilical points and particular types of ends are found. From the existence of transversal invariant measures for the foliations by principal lines, established here, follows that the union of recurrent lines of principal curvature is an open set. Examples illustrating all possible cases are given.