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Curvature Estimates and Prescribed Curvature Problems for Sum Hessian Equations on Star-Shaped Hypersurfaces

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Abstract

Let MM be a closed star-shaped hypersurface in Rn+1\mathbb{R}^{n+1} and let η=Hg−hη=Hg-h be the first Newton transformation of its second fundamental form. For a fixed constant α>0α>0 and 2≤k≤n−12\le k\le n-1, we study the prescribed sum Hessian curvature equation σk(λ(η))+ασk−1(λ(η))=f(X,ν). σ_k(λ(η))+ασ_{k-1}(λ(η))=f(X,ν). Under the natural admissibility condition λ(η)∈Γk−1∩{λ:σk(λ)+ασk−1(λ)>0}, λ(η)\inΓ_{k-1}\cap \{λ:σ_k(λ)+ασ_{k-1}(λ)>0\}, we establish a global curvature estimate for closed star-shaped solutions with a general positive right-hand side depending on the position vector and the unit normal. A key point is that the sum Hessian operator is nonhomogeneous; the resulting lower-order term in the maximum-principle calculation is controlled by a partial curvature estimate. We also use the augmented-variable identity σk(λ)+ασk−1(λ)=σk(λ1,…,λn,α) σ_k(λ)+ασ_{k-1}(λ) =σ_k(λ_1,\ldots,λ_n,α) to recover the relevant ellipticity and concavity properties. As an application of the a priori estimates, we prove existence and uniqueness for the corresponding prescribed curvature problem under suitable spherical barrier and radial monotonicity assumptions.

Mathematics Subject Classification (2020). 53C42; 35J60; 53C21.

Introduction

Let MM be a hypersurface in the (n+1)(n+1)-dimensional Euclidean space Rn+1\mathbb{R}^{n+1}. Let κ(X)\kappa(X), H(X)H(X), and ν(X)\nu(X) denote the principal curvatures, mean curvature, and unit outward normal vector of MM at XX, respectively. Define the (0,2)(0,2)-tensor

ηij=Hgij−hij,\eta_{ij}=Hg_{ij}-h_{ij},

where gijg_{ij} and hijh_{ij} are the coefficients of the first and second fundamental forms. The tensor η\eta is the first Newton transformation of hh with respect to gg. If λ(η)=(λ1,…,λn)\lambda(\eta)=(\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_n) denotes the eigenvalues of η\eta, then

λi=H−κi=∑j≠iκj,i=1,…,n.\lambda_i=H-\kappa_i=\sum_{j\ne i}\kappa_j,\qquad i=1,\ldots,n.

The classical prescribed curvature equation

σk(κ(X))=f(X,ν(X))\sigma_k(\kappa(X))=f(X,\nu(X))

plays a fundamental role in fully nonlinear elliptic equations and geometric analysis. The cases k=1k=1, k=2k=2, and k=nk=n correspond, up to the usual normalization, to the prescribed mean, scalar, and Gauss curvature equations. The classical theory of fully nonlinear Hessian equations and prescribed curvature problems on star-shaped hypersurfaces can be found in [1, 2]. In a different but closely related direction, Chu and Jiao [3] studied the Hessian-type curvature equation

σk(λ(η))=f(X,ν(X))\sigma_k(\lambda(\eta))=f(X,\nu(X))

for star-shaped hypersurfaces. They established a global curvature estimate under the natural condition λ(η)∈Γk\lambda(\eta)\in\Gamma_k and applied it to the corresponding prescribed curvature problem. Their proof combines a maximum-principle test function with a partial curvature estimate that provides the good third-order terms needed to control the derivatives of the right-hand side. Related global curvature estimates for convex hypersurfaces and prescribed curvature measure problems were established in [6, 5]. The evolution of star-shaped hypersurfaces by symmetric functions of their principal curvatures was also studied in [15].

Sum Hessian equations constitute another natural class of fully nonlinear equations. In Euclidean domains the model equation is

σk(D2u)+ασk−1(D2u)=f(x,u,Du),α>0.\sigma_k(D^2u)+\alpha\sigma_{k-1}(D^2u)=f(x,u,Du),\qquad\alpha>0.

The operator is a linear combination of two neighboring Hessian operators of different degrees and is therefore nonhomogeneous. Li, Ren, and Wang [9] identified the natural admissible region

Γk−1∩{λ:σk(λ)+ασk−1(λ)>0}\Gamma_{k-1}\cap\{\lambda:\sigma_k(\lambda)+\alpha\sigma_{k-1}(\lambda)>0\}

and studied curvature estimates for related linear combinations of elementary symmetric functions on convex hypersurfaces. Liu and Ren [12] obtained Pogorelov-type C2C^2 estimates for the standard sum Hessian equation. Liang, Yan, and Zhu [11] subsequently developed Pogorelov estimates and rigidity results for (k−1)(k-1)-convex solutions under an additional semi-convexity assumption, stressing that the loss of homogeneity prevents a direct transfer of several arguments from the pure kk-Hessian equation. Further developments include the Pogorelov estimates of Li and Ren [10] and the interior estimate of Ren and Sun [13] for a two-sum Hessian equation with a nonnegative variable coefficient α(x)≥0\alpha(x)\geq0 satisfying the structural condition D2α=βID^2\alpha=\beta I, under the additional assumption Δu>0\Delta u>0.

Of particular relevance to the present problem is the work of Ren and Wang [14], who considered

σk(μ)+ασk−1(μ)=f(x,u,Du),μi=∑j≠iλj(D2u),\sigma_k(\mu)+\alpha\sigma_{k-1}(\mu)=f(x,u,Du),\qquad\mu_i=\sum_{j\ne i}\lambda_j(D^2u),

so that μ\mu is the spectrum of (Δu)I−D2u(\Delta u)I-D^2u. They established interior C2C^2 and Pogorelov-type estimates for 0<k<n0<k<n, while the endpoint k=nk=n requires a weaker estimate. This is algebraically the closest Euclidean-domain analogue of our operator. The geometric setting here is different: η=Hg−h\eta=Hg-h is defined by the second fundamental form of a closed hypersurface, and the goal is a global curvature estimate rather than an interior Hessian estimate.

There are also recent geometric works on sum curvature equations formulated directly in the principal curvatures. For example, Yang and Lu [16] study complete hypersurfaces of constant sum Hessian curvature in hyperbolic space, with curvature function σn−1(κ)+ασn(κ)\sigma_{n-1}(\kappa)+\alpha\sigma_n(\kappa). These problems, as well as the convex-hypersurface results of Li, Ren, and Wang [9], are structurally distinct from applying the sum Hessian operator to the eigenvalues of the first Newton transformation Hg−hHg-h.

Motivated by the above developments and by the geometric framework of Chu and Jiao, we study the prescribed sum Hessian curvature equation associated with η\eta. Fix a constant α>0\alpha>0. For 1≤j≤n1\le j\le n, set

Sj,α(λ)=σj(λ)+ασj−1(λ),σ0≡1.S_{j,\alpha}(\lambda)=\sigma_j(\lambda)+\alpha\sigma_{j-1}(\lambda),\qquad\sigma_0\equiv1.

Our equation is

Sk,α(λ(η))=σk(λ(η))+ασk−1(λ(η))=f(X,ν(X)),X∈M.(1)S_{k,\alpha}(\lambda(\eta))=\sigma_k(\lambda(\eta))+\alpha\sigma_{k-1}(\lambda(\eta))=f(X,\nu(X)),\qquad X\in M. \tag*{(1)}

The natural admissible region is

Γ~k,α:=Γk−1∩{λ∈Rn:Sk,α(λ)>0},\widetilde{\Gamma}_{k,\alpha}:=\Gamma_{k-1}\cap\{\lambda\in\mathbb{R}^n:S_{k,\alpha}(\lambda)>0\},

where

Γj={λ∈Rn:σ1(λ)>0,…,σj(λ)>0}.\Gamma_j=\{\lambda\in\mathbb{R}^n:\sigma_1(\lambda)>0,\ldots,\sigma_j(\lambda)>0\}.

A C2C^2 hypersurface is called (η,k,α)(\eta,k,\alpha)-admissible if λ(η)∈Γ~k,α\lambda(\eta)\in\widetilde{\Gamma}_{k,\alpha} everywhere on MM.

The key structural observation is obtained by introducing the augmented vector

λ^=(λ1,…,λn,α)∈Rn+1.\widehat{\lambda}=(\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_n,\alpha)\in\mathbb{R}^{n+1}.

Then

Sj,α(λ)=σj(λ^).S_{j,\alpha}(\lambda)=\sigma_j(\widehat{\lambda}).

Thus the nonhomogeneous sum Hessian operator is the restriction of the standard Hessian operator in one higher dimension to the affine hyperplane whose last coordinate equals α\alpha. This recovers ellipticity and concavity from σk1/k\sigma_k^{1/k} in one higher dimension. On the other hand, the loss of homogeneity changes the Euler identity and produces an additional lower-order term in the maximum-principle calculation. The main analytical task is to absorb this term using the partial curvature estimate.

To the best of our knowledge, a global curvature estimate and a corresponding prescribed-curvature existence theorem for (1) on closed star-shaped hypersurfaces under the natural (η,k,α)(\eta,k,\alpha)-admissibility condition have not previously been established. Our first main result is the following.

Theorem 1.1. Let 2≤k≤n−12\le k\le n-1 and let α>0\alpha>0. Let MM be a closed, star-shaped, (η,k,α)(\eta,k,\alpha)-admissible hypersurface in Rn+1\mathbb{R}^{n+1} satisfying (1), where f>0f>0 and f∈C2(U)f\in C^2(\mathcal{U}) for an open neighborhood U\mathcal{U} of the unit normal bundle of MM in Rn+1×Sn\mathbb{R}^{n+1}\times\mathbb{S}^n. Then

max⁡X∈Mmax⁡1≤i≤n∣κi(X)∣≤C,\max_{X\in M}\max_{1\le i\le n}|\kappa_i(X)|\le C,

where

C=C(n,k,α,∥M∥C1,inf⁡f,∥f∥C2).C=C\left(n,k,\alpha,\|M\|_{C^1},\inf f,\|f\|_{C^2}\right).

The restriction k≤n−1k \le n-1 enters in the partial curvature estimate in § 3; the endpoint k=nk=n requires a different argument and is not treated here. The proof follows the maximum-principle strategy of Chu and Jiao, but the lower-order ασk−1\alpha\sigma_{k-1} term changes the Euler identity and gives rise to an additional quantity RαR_\alpha. The principal new point in the estimate is to control this term without strengthening the natural admissibility condition.

We also prove an existence result. Put

Φα(r):=(nk)(n−1)krk+α(nk−1)(n−1)k−1rk−1.(2)\Phi_\alpha(r) := \binom{n}{k}\frac{(n-1)^k}{r^k}+\alpha\binom{n}{k-1}\frac{(n-1)^{k-1}}{r^{k-1}}. \tag*{(2)}

This is the value of the left-hand side of (1) on the sphere of radius rr. Since the sum Hessian operator is not homogeneous, the spherical barriers used for the pure kk-Hessian case acquire the second term in (2).

References

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