Minimal Lagrangian diffeomorphisms and the Monge-Ampère equation (Q1383636): Difference between revisions

The author considers the following problem. Given two closed, bounded, connected, simply connected domains \(D_1,D_2\subset {\mathbb R}^2\) of equal area and with smooth boundaries, is there an area preserving diffeomorphism \(\psi:D_1\rightarrow D_2\) which is smooth up to the boundary and such that the graph of \(\psi\) is a minimal surface in \({\mathbb R}^4\)? This question is motivated in part by work of \textit{R. Schoen} [Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 143, 179-200 (1993; Zbl 0806.58013)] and \textit{F. Labourie} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 45, 549-565 (1992; Zbl 0767.53011)] on a similar question with \(D_1\) and \(D_2\) replaced by \((M,g_1)\) and \((M,g_2)\), where \(M\) is a compact Riemann surface of genus \(g\geq 2\) and \(g_1,g_2\) are a pair of hyperbolic metrics on \(M\). After giving an introduction to the geometry of Lagrangian minimal surfaces, the author shows that such surfaces do not exist in general, and that there is an obstruction to their existence which can be formulated in terms of the Lagrangian angle. The existence of globally smooth Lagrangian minimal surfaces is then proved under the assumption that \((D_1,D_2)\) is a pseudoconvex pair, which means that \[ \min_{\partial D_1}\kappa_1 + \min_{\partial D_2}\kappa_2 > 0 \tag \(*\) \] where \(\kappa_i\) is the curvature of \(\partial D_i\). An interesting connection with the boundary value problem \[ w_{xx}w_{yy}-w_{xy}^2 = 1 \quad\text{in}\quad D_1, \qquad Dw(D_1) = D_2 \tag{\(**\)} \] is also made. Namely, if \(w\) is a solution of \((**)\), then the graph of \(Dw\) is a Lagrangian minimal surface in \(D_1\times D_2\), and conversely, a Lagrangian minimal diffeomorphism \(\psi:D_1 \rightarrow D_2\) determines a solution of \((**)\). Therefore \((*)\) is a sufficient condition for the existence of globally smooth solutions of \((**)\). The existence of globally smooth solutions of \((**)\) was first proved by \textit{P. Delanoë} [Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré, Anal. Non Lineaire 8, 443-457 (1991; Zbl 0778.35037)] under the stronger assumption that \(D_1\) and \(D_2\) are smooth bounded convex domains with boundaries of positive curvature.