Euclidean submanifolds with incompressible canonical vector field

Abstract

For a submanifold M in a Euclidean space, the tangential component x^T of the position vector field x of M is the most natural vector field tangent to the Euclidean submanifold, called the canonical vector field of M. In this article, first we prove that the canonical vector field of every Euclidean submanifold is always conservative. Then we initiate the study of Euclidean submanifolds with incompressible canonical vector fields. In particular, we obtain the necessary and sufficient conditions for the canonical vector field of a Euclidean submanifold to be incompressible. Further, we provide examples of Euclidean submanifolds with incompressible canonical vector field. Moreover, we classify planar curves, surfaces of revolution and hypercylinders with incompressible canonical vector fields.