Boundary value problems for minimal surfaces

Publication date 15 December 1997

boundary value problems Douglas problem generalized minimal surfaces geometric singularities minimal surfaces Plateau problem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to differential geometry (53-02) Minimal surfaces in differential geometry, surfaces with prescribed mean curvature (53A10) Variational problems concerning minimal surfaces (problems in two independent variables) (58E12)

Review text

The author gives a very complete and clear survey on boundary value problems for minimal surfaces \(X:\Omega\to \mathbb{R}^3\), \(\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^2\) a parameter domain in \(\mathbb{R}^2\). Particular emphasis is put on questions of existence, regularity and geometric estimates for the solution of such problems. The survey is divided into three chapters. In the first chapter, after deriving various forms of the first variation of the area functional \(A(X)\), it is shown that the free boundary condition connected with the area functional is the condition of orthogonality. From the uniformization theorem and from other results it is shown that every \(C^2\) minimal immersion in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) is gobally equivalent to a conformal and harmonic immersion. This leads to the notion of a generalized minimal surface which may have isolated branch points as singularities. In the second chapter, the author treats the classical Plateau problem. The existence of solutions to Plateau's problem is proved. The generalized Plateau problem (or Douglas problem) and the so-called tread problem are also considered. The author then shows how the approach to Plateau's problem can be modified in order to treat also partially free boundary problems, and some remarks concerning uniqueness and non-uniqueness of solutions to such problems are given. A stationary surface within a given boundary configuration is then defined. In the third chapter, boundary behaviour of minimal surfaces bounded by smooth arcs is investigated. The only geometric singularities of minimal surfaces in the interior are branch points. The same holds true at the boundary. This follows from an asymptotic expansion which is obtained by a technique due to Hartman and Wintner. The boundary behaviour of solutions to the free boundary problem is also considered. Several new phenomena complicate the problem in this case, and the proofs are only sketched. The results obtained on boundary regularity make possible to establish various geometric estimates for minimal surfaces such as isoperimetric inequalities and ``enclosure theorems. These kinds of estimates furnish a certain rough picture of a minimal surface spanning a pre-assigned boundary. Very interesting and instructive historical remarks are given on the classical Plateau problem. The mathematical evolution of the problem connected with the up-to-date problems and the contribution of all mathematicians up to our days are illustrated. The references to the literature are very complete. For these reasons this survey is fundamental for anyone interested in the subject. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0873.00014].

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