In this paper we survey recent developments in the classical theory of minimal surfaces in Euclidean spaces which have been obtained as applications of both classical and modern complex analytic methods; in particular, Oka theory, period dominating holomorphic sprays, gluing methods for holomorphic maps, and the Riemann-Hilbert boundary value problem. Emphasis is on results pertaining to the global theory of minimal surfaces, in particular, the Calabi-Yau problem, constructions of properly immersed and embedded minimal surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^n$ and in minimally convex domains of $\mathbb{R}^n$, results on the complex Gauss map, isotopies of conformal minimal immersions, and the analysis of the homotopy type of the space of all conformal minimal immersions from a given open Riemann surface.
The aim of this work is to adapt the complex analytic methods originating in modern Oka theory to the study of non-orientable conformal minimal surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^n$ for any $n\ge 3$. These methods, which we develop essentially from the first principles, enable us to prove that the space of conformal minimal immersions of a given bordered non-orientable surface to $\mathbb{R}^n$ is a real analytic Banach manifold, obtain approximation results of Runge-Mergelyan type for conformal minimal immersions from non-orientable surfaces, and show general position theorems for non-orientable conform…
We give a survey on the development of the study of the asymptotic Dirichlet problem for the minimal surface equation on Cartan-Hadamard manifolds. Part of this survey is based on the introductory part of the doctoral dissertation of the author. The paper is organised as follows. First we introduce Cartan-Hadamard manifolds and the concept of asymptotic Dirichlet problem, then discuss about the development of the results and describe the methods used in the proofs. In the end we mention some results about the nonsolvability of the asymptotic Dirichlet problem.
In this survey, we discuss various aspects of the minimal surface equation in the three-sphere S^3. After recalling the basic definitions, we describe a family of immersed minimal tori with rotational symmetry. We then review the known examples of embedded minimal surfaces in S^3. Besides the equator and the Clifford torus, these include the Lawson and Kapouleas-Yang examples, as well as a new family of examples found recently by Choe and Soret. We next discuss uniqueness theorems for minimal surfaces in S^3, such as the work of Almgren on the genus 0 case, and our recent solution of Lawson's …
This paper is about interpolating minimal surfaces between two real analytic curves, a and b, each of which are simple real analytic curves, using the Björling-Schwarz formula in the domain where it is valid, changing the normal distributions on inital curves. We insert curves $l_1,...l_L$ at specific locations and claim that there exists piecewise minimal surfaces interpolating between $a$ to $l_1$,$l_2$ to $l_3$, ...$l_L$ to $b
A behavior of extreme networks under deformations of their boundary sets is investigated. It is shown that analyticity of a deformation of boundary set guarantees preservation of the networks types for minimal spanning trees, minimal fillings and so-called stable shortest trees in the Euclidean space.
We give a quick tour through many of the classical results in the field of minimal submanifolds, starting at the definition. The field of minimal submanifolds remains extremely active and has very recently seen major developments that have solved many longstanding open problems and conjectures; for more on this, see the expanded version of this survey as well as recent surveys of Meeks and Perez, Perez, and Rosenberg.
In this article we study complex properties of minimal Lagrangian submanifolds in Kaehler ambient spaces, and how they depend on the ambient curvature. In particular, we prove that, in the negative curvature case, minimal Lagrangians do not admit fillings by holomorphic discs. The proof relies on a mix of holomorphic curve techniques and on certain convexity results.
A local uniqueness property of holomorphic functions on real-analytic nowhere minimal CR submanifolds of higher codimension is investigated. A sufficient condition called almost minimality is given and studied. A weaker necessary condition, being contained a possibly singular real-analytic Levi-flat hypersurface is studied and characterized. This question is completely resolved for algebraic submanifolds of codimension 2 and a sufficient condition for noncontainment is given for non algebraic submanifolds. As a consequence, an example of a submanifold of codimension 2, not biholomorphically eq…
The classical result of describing harmonic maps from surfaces into symmetric spaces of reductive Lie groups states that the Maurer-Cartan form with an additional parameter, the so-called loop parameter, is integrable for all values of the loop parameter. As a matter of fact, the same result holds for $k$-symmetric spaces over reductive Lie groups. In this survey we will show that to each of the five different types of real forms for a loop group of $A_2^{(2)}$ there exists a surface class, for which some frame is integrable for all values of the loop parameter if and only if it belongs to one…
In this survey we report a general and systematic approach to study $[φ,\vec{e}_{3}]$-minimal surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$ from a geometric viewpoint and show some fundamental results obtained in the recent development of this theory.
The study of embedded minimal surfaces in $\RR^3$ is a classical problem, dating to the mid 1700's, and many people have made key contributions. We will survey a few recent advances, focusing on joint work with Tobias H. Colding of MIT and Courant, and taking the opportunity to focus on results that have not been highlighted elsewhere.
In this survey article we gather classical as well as recent results on minimal geodesics of Riemannian or Finsler metrics, giving special attention to the two-dimensional case. Moreover, we present open problems together with some first ideas as to the solutions.
We present a few general results on foliations of 4-manifolds by surfaces: existence, tautness, relations to minimal genus of embedded surfaces; as well as some open problems. We hope to stimulate interest in this area.
In the present paper we study the Lie sphere geometry of Legendre surfaces by the method of moving frame and we prove an existence theorem for real-analytic Lie-minimal Legendre surfaces.
Let $a: I\to \mathbb{R}^3 $ be a real analytic curve satisfying some conditions. In this article, we show that for any real analytic curve $l:I\to \mathbb R^3$ close to $a$ (in a sense which is precisely defined in the paper) there exists a translation of $l$, and a minimal surface which contains both $ a $ and the translated $l$.
We construct new examples of embedded, complete minimal hypersurfaces in quaternionc hyperbolic space and also some minimal foliations. We introduce fans an construct analytic deformations of bisectors.
We survey some recent topics on singularities, with a focus on their connection to the minimal model program. This includes the construction and properties of dual complexes, the proof of the ACC conjecture for log canonical thresholds and the recent progress on the `local stability theory' of an arbitrary Kawamata log terminal singularity.
The main goal of this survey is to illustrate geometric applications of the Poincaré Lemma to constant mean curvature equations. In 1970, Calabi introduced the duality between minimal graphs in three dimensional Euclidean space and maximal graphs in three dimensional Lorentz space. We construct two extensions of Calabi's correspondence.
Let $N$ be a Riemannian manifold and consider a stationary union of three or more $C^{1,μ}$ hypersurfaces-with-boundary $M_k$ in $N$ with a common boundary $Γ$. We show that if $N$ is smooth, then $Γ$ is smooth and each $M_k$ is smooth up to $Γ$ (real analytic in the case $N$ is real analytic). Consequently we strengthen a result of Wickramasekera to conclude that under the stronger hypothesis that $V$ is a stationary, stable, integral $n$-varifold in an $(n+1)$-dimensional, smooth (real analytic) Riemannian manifold such that the support of $\|V\|$ is nowhere locally the union of three or mor…
In continuing the study of harmonic mapping from 2-dimensional Riemannian simplicial complexes in order to construct minimal surfaces with singularity, we obtain an a-priori regularity result concerning the real analyticity of the free boundary curve. The free boundary is the singular set along which three disk-type minimal surfaces meet. Here the configuration of the singular minimal surface is obtained by a minimization of a weighted energy functional, in the spirit of J.Douglas' approach to the Plateau Problem. Using the free boundary regularity of the harmonic map, we construct a local uni…
This paper is the fourth in a series where we describe the space of all embedded minimal surfaces of fixed genus in a fixed (but arbitrary) closed 3-manifold. The key is to understand the structure of an embedded minimal disk in a ball in $\RR^3$. This was undertaken in [CM3], [CM4] and the global version of it will be completed here; see [CM15] for discussion of the local case and [CM13], [CM14] where we have surveyed our results about embedded minimal disks.
Let $N$ be a smooth $(n+l)$-dimensional Riemannian manifold. We show that if $V$ is an area-stationary union of three or more $C^{1,μ}$ $n$-dimensional submanifolds-with-boundary $M_k \subset N$ with a common boundary $Γ$, then $Γ$ is smooth and each $M_k$ is smooth up to $Γ$ (real-analytic in the case $N$ is real-analytic). This extends a previous result of the author for codimension $l = 1$. We additionally show that if $\{V_t\}_{t \in (-1,1)}$ is a Brakke flow such that each time-slice $V_t$ is a union of three or more $n$-dimensional submanifolds-with-boundary $M_{k,t} \subset N$ with a co…
