The rate of convergence of a harmonic map at a singular point (Q1103240)

The authors consider a minimizing harmonic map f: M \(m\to N\) n between Riemannian manifolds M and N, where f has an isolated point of discontinuity at \(x=0\). It follows from a result of L. Simon that the domain-rescaled mappings \(f_{\lambda}(x):=f(\lambda x)\) converge in the \(C^ 2\)-norm on the annulus, as \(\lambda\) \(\to 0\) \(+\), to a unique homogeneous harmonic map \(f_ 0: {\mathbb{R}}\) \(m\to N\). However, Simon does not give any estimate of the rate of convergence. In the lowest dimensions in which singularities may occur, namely \(m=3\) and \(n=2\), the authors show that \(\| f_{\lambda}-f_ 0\| \leq const. \lambda ^{\alpha}\) for some \(\alpha >0\); the proof rests on the theory of conformal mappings, and on a generalization by Simon of a theorem of Allard and Almgren. The authors also construct examples of manifolds N and harmonic mappings \(f: {\mathbb{R}}\) \(m\to N\) n having isolated singularities, in any dimensions \(n\geq m\geq 3\), such that \(\| f_{\lambda}-f_ 0\| =const.(-\log \lambda)^{1/2}\), so that no estimate of the form \(\lambda ^{\alpha}\) is possible.