Some function theoretic properties of the Gauss map for hyperbolic complete minimal surfaces (Q1094677)

Since the Gauss map of a minimal surface M in \({\mathbb{R}}^ 3\) can be represented by a meromorphic function g, function-theoretic methods are important in the theory of minimal surfaces. In the present paper the authors study the problem to determine the functions g which arise if M is a complete minimal surface of hyperbolic type. There are connections with normal functions, Nevanlinna's characteristic and elliptic functions. In 1961 Ahlfors and Osserman first used Nevanlinna's theory of functions of bounded characteristic in the theory of minimal surfaces to prove the ``capacity zero theorem'' for the image of M under the Gauss map.