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Abstract for MSRI Preprint 1998-053

Positively curved surfaces with no tangent support plane

John McCuan

We discuss a characterization of positively curved surfaces $M$ with the property that at each point the tangent plane to $M$ is not a support plane for the entire surface. A one parameter family of examples which have special relevance with respect to the characterization is also given. Each member of this family is a smooth embedded surface in $\mathbb R^3$ that is topologically a disk, has everywhere positive Gauss curvature, but has none of its tangent planes as a support plane.