[Math] Show that if the Gaussian curvature and the mean curvature are identically zero all over $S$, then $S$ is a part of a plane in $\mathbb{R}^3$.

differential-geometry

A parametrization $\phi(u,v)$ of a regular surface is called a 'conformal parametrization if $X_u . X_u$ = $X_v . X_v$ and $X_u . X_v=0$, i.e., $E=G$ and $F=0$.
Let $S$ be a regular surface parametrized by a conformal parametrization. Show that if the Gaussian curvature and the mean curvature are identically zero all over $S$, then $S$ is a part of a plane in $\mathbb{R}^3$.

I know that if the gaussian curvature is zero, then
$$\frac{LN-M^2}{EG-F^2}=0$$
where $L, M, N$ are the coefficients of the second fundamental form.
So, $LN=M^2$.
And if the mean curvature is zero too, then
$$\frac{LG – 2MF + NE}{2(EG-F^2)}=0$$
So, $LG + NE = 2MF$.

But $F=0$ and $E=G$, so
$L = – N$.

Then $-L^2=M^2$, so $L=M=N=0$.
But I don't know how to continue.

Best Answer

We've that $dN_p (X_u) = \lambda X_u$, because the points are all umbilical. But you have just showed that $\langle dN_p (X_u) , X_u \rangle = 0 $. Thus, we have that $dN_p (X_u) = 0$. The same arguing shows that $dN_p (X_v) = 0$. This plainly implies that $N$ is constant, and we've that $S$ is contained in a plane, as desired.