Let
M be an
n-dimensional closed submanifold with parallel mean curvature in
Sn+p, $\tilde{h}$ the trace free part of the second fundamental form, and $\tilde{\sigma}$(
u) = ||$\tilde{h}$(
u,
u)||
2 for any unit vector
u ∈
TM. We prove that there exists a positive constant
C(
n,
p,
H) (≥ 1/3) such that if $\tilde{\sigma}$(
u) ≤
C(
n,
p,
H), then either $\tilde{\sigma}$(
u) ≡ 0 and
M is a totally umbilical sphere, or $\tilde{\sigma}$(
u) ≡
C(
n,
p,
H). A geometrical classification of closed submanifolds with parallel mean curvature satisfying $\tilde{\sigma}$(
u) ≡
C(
n,
p,
H) is also given. Our main result is an extension of the Gauchman theorem [4].
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