On doubly periodic minimal surfaces in $\mathbb H^2 \times \mathbb R$ with finite total curvature in the quotient space

Abstract

In this paper we develop the theory of properly immersed minimal surfaces in the quotient space $\mathbb H^2\times\mathbb R/G,$ where $G$ is a subgroup of isometries generated by a vertical translation and a horizontal isometry in $\mathbb H^2$ without fixed points. The horizontal isometry can be either a parabolic translation along horocycles in $\mathbb H^2$ or a hyperbolic translation along a geodesic in $\mathbb H^2.$ In fact, we prove that if a properly immersed minimal surface in $\mathbb H^2\times\mathbb R/G$ has finite total curvature then its total curvature is a multiple of $2\pi,$ and moreover, we understand the geometry of the ends. These theorems hold true more generally for properly immersed minimal surfaces in $M\times\mathbb S^1,$ where $M$ is a hyperbolic surface with finite topology whose ends are isometric to one of the ends of the above spaces $\mathbb H^2\times\mathbb R/G.$