Closed minimal surfaces of index one in Riemannian manifolds

Abstract

In this paper we prove that an $(n+1)$-manifold, compactly $n$-enlargeable, where $3\leq (n+1)\leq 7$, has connected, immersed Morse index one, closed minimal hypersurfaces with unbounded volumes for bumpy metrics. We prove that in the three-dimensional case the hypersurfaces are geometrically distinct using cyclic coverings of manifolds with boundary. The proof extends to $(n+1)$-fiberings. We prove a scalar curvature rigidity theorem for area-nonincreasing maps of three-dimensional manifolds. The case of stable surfaces is also discussed by using cohomology classes and incompressible surfaces.