Existence and regularity of embedded disks (Q1122138)

The author proves the following theorem: Let \(\Psi\) be a \(C^{2,\alpha}\) parametric elliptic even integral with constant coefficients, and let \(\Gamma\) be a \(C^{2,\alpha}\)-extreme Jordan curve in \({\mathbb{R}}^ 3\). Then either the only \(\Psi\)-stationary surfaces (including surfaces of higher genus) bounded by \(\Gamma\) are the unique \(\Psi\)-minimizing embedded disk or \(\Gamma\) bounds two distinct \(\Psi\)-stable embedded disks \(\Sigma^{\pm}\) (they are one-sided \(\Psi\)-minimizing in the sense of geometric measure theory). Moreover, for the latter case, any other \(\Psi\)-stationary surfaces (including surfaces of higher genus) are supported in the region bounded by \(\Sigma^+\) and \(\Sigma^-.\) A corresponding result for the area integral was established by the author in an earlier paper [Manuscr. Math. 58, 497-511 (1987)]. The key step in the proof is a Hölder estimate up to the boundary for the unit normal of \(\Psi\)-stationary embedded disks. This follows from a generalized Lebesgue Lemma on such surfaces. The main result is then deduced using a perturbation theory for \(\Psi\)-stationary surfaces due to B. White.