A Simons type formula for surfaces with parallel mean curvature

Abstract

We prove a Simons type equation for non-minimal surfaces with parallel mean curvature vector (pmc surfaces) in $M^n(c)\times\mathbb{R}$, where $M^n(c)$ is an $n$-dimensional space form. Then, we use this equation in order to characterize complete non-minimal pmc surfaces with non-negative Gaussian curvature.