Harmonic maps of V-manifolds (Q1822808)

The theory of harmonic maps of Riemannian manifolds is generalized to the case of V-manifolds. By using Sampson's method, we first obtain Rellich's theorem and Sobolev's theorem on a compact V-manifold. With these two fundamental theorems, we then construct the Green's function and the heat kernel. By all the preceding results established, we finally prove the existence of a harmonic map from a V-manifold into a Riemannian manifold with non-positive curvature. Harmonic maps of V-manifolds are also discussed.