Nonlinear analysis in geometry (Q1094675)

This paper is an extended version of three lectures on nonlinear equations which arise in both geometry and physics. It is a lovely survey on many recent results in a wide number of areas in geometry in which the study of local and global problems of differential equations play a central role. A rough outline of some of the topics covered is as follows: Section 1: Eigenvalues and harmonic functions: spectral geometry, Polya conjecture, estimation of low eigenvalues, gap between eigenvalues, \(L^ 2\) and \(L^{\infty}\) theory of complete manifolds, existence of non- constant harmonic functions with specified properties, bounded holomorphic functions. Section 2: Semi-linear equations and Yamabe problem related to conformal deformation: existence of metrics with constant scalar curvature within a conformal class, locally conformally flat metrics, developing map. Section 3: Harmonic maps: existence, uniqueness and regularity, theory on non-compact manifolds, \(L^ 2\) harmonic maps, rigidity theorems, harmonic maps in physics. Section 4: Minimal submanifolds: minimal surfaces in compact 3-manifolds, mountain pass principle, relationship to eigenvalue problems and conformal area, genus of minimal surfaces, minimal surfaces of fixed genus in manifold with positive Ricci curvature, first eigenvalue of minimal surfaces, applications to three dimensional topology. Section 5: Kaehler geometry: existence of complex and almost complex structure, existence of Kaehler and algebraic structures on complex manifolds, uniformization problems and the parametrization of metrics (elliptic, parabolic, and hyperbolic manifolds), analytic objects over complex manifolds (analytic cycles, holomorphic vector bundles etc.). Section 6: Canonical metrics over complex manifolds: Bergman, Kobayashi- Royden and Caratheodory metrics, Kaehler-Einstein metrics on compact Kaehler manifolds, Hermitian manifolds and stable vector bundles, Chern number inequalities, Kaehler-Einstein metrics on noncompact manifolds, Ricci flat metrics on noncompact manifolds. References: The paper contains an extensive bibliography of approximately 160 papers which are discussed in the survey.