Area-minimizing surfaces in cones (Q1811410)

In this article the author considers the cone \(\{y=\delta^{-1}(1-\delta^2)^{1/2}| x| \}\) in the Euclidean \((n+1)\)-space. This cone is isometric to \(\mathbb{R}^n\) with the metric, in polar coordinates, given by \(ds^2=dr^2+\delta^2 r^2 d\Theta^2\) \((0< \delta< 1)\), where \(d\Theta^2\) is the standard metric on the unit sphere \(\mathbb{S}^{n-1}\). A result of Ivanov and Tuzhilin [\textit{A. O. Ivanov} and \textit{A. A. Tuzhilin}, Minimal networks: the Steiner problem and its generalizations. (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press) (1994; Zbl 0842.90116)] states that a length-minimizing curve in the cone avoids the vertex. In this article the author generalizes the Ivanov-Tuzhilin result to: a \(k\)-dimensional plane through the vertex is area-minimizing if and only if \(k\geq 3\) and \(\delta^2\geq 4(k-1)/k^2\) and unstable otherwise. The main result is applied in severe circumstances. For example it is proved that in \(\mathbb{R}^{2m+2}\;(m\geq 1)\) with metric \(ds^2=dr^2+\delta^2 r^2 d\Theta^2\; (\delta \geq 0)\), the cone over \(\mathbb{S}^m\times\mathbb{S}^m\) is area minimizing if \(\delta^2\geq 16m/(2m+1)^2\) and unstable if \(\delta^2 < 16m/(2m+1)^2\). The article contains related results on the existence of area-minimizing cones through singularities.