Comparison Theorems for the Profile Curve Equation of Rotationally Symmetric Self-Shrinkers

Abstract

Mean curvature flow is a fundamental geometric evolution equation in which a submanifold moves in the normal direction with velocity equal to its mean curvature vector. Self-shrinkers arise naturally as self-similar solutions to the mean curvature flow and play an important role as models for finite-time singularities. Among nontrivial examples of compact embedded self-shrinkers, the rotationally symmetric self-shrinking torus constructed by Angenent is one of the most important. However, the uniqueness of the Angenent torus remains a major open problem. In this paper, we study rotationally symmetric self-shrinkers of type $\mathbb{S}^{1}\times \mathbb{S}^{n-1}$ from the point of view of ordinary differential equations. We analyze the profile curves of rotationally symmetric self-shrinkers, focusing on the behavior of their vertical points and the curves traced out by these points as the initial height varies. We give a new proof of the existence of the Angenent torus by showing that two families of vertical-point trajectories must intersect. We further derive the linearized equation associated with the rotationally symmetric self-shrinker equation and apply a Sturm-type comparison theorem to obtain sufficient conditions for the monotonicity of horizontal-point trajectories. In particular, we prove a comparison theorem for solutions near the spherical self-shrinker $x^{2}+r^{2}=2n$, and establish partial monotonicity results for the curves of horizontal points. These results provide a possible approach to the uniqueness problem for the Angenent torus.