Fine properties of branch point singularities: Two-valued harmonic functions

MaRDI QIDQ6246188zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors Brian Krummel, Neshan Wickramasekera

Publication date 4 November 2013

Abstract: In the 1980's, Almgren developed a theory of multi-valued Dirichlet energy minimizing functions on $n$ dimensional domains and used it, in an essential way, to bound the Hausdorff dimension of the singular sets of area minimizing rectifiable currents of dimension $n$ and codimension $geq2$. Recent work of the second author shows that two-valued $C^{1,mu}$ harmonic functions on $n$ dimensional domains, which are typically-non-minimizing stationary points of Dirichlet energy, play an essential role in the study of multiplicity 2 branch points of stable codimension 1 rectifiable currents of dimension $n$. In all of these cases (of multi-valued harmonic functions and minimal currents), it is known that the branch sets have Hausdorff dimension $leqn-2.$ In this paper we initiate a study of the local structure of branch sets. We show that the branch set of a two-valued Dirichlet energy minimizing function or a two-valued $C^{1,mu}$ harmonic function, in each closed ball of its domain, is either empty or has positive $(n-2)$-dimensional Hausdorff measure and is equal to the union of a finite number of locally compact, locally $(n-2)$-rectifiable sets. Our method is inspired by the work of L. Simon on the structure of singularities of minimal submanifolds in compact, multiplicity 1 classes.

This page was built for publication: Fine properties of branch point singularities: Two-valued harmonic functions

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6246188)