Local and global existence criteria for capillary surfaces in wedges (Q1917673)

(Author's introduction.) This paper addresses a conjecture of \textit{P. Concus} and \textit{R. Finn} [SIAM J. Math. Anal. 27, No. 1, 56-69 (1996; Zbl 0843.76012)] on conditions for local existence of solutions of the zero-gravity capillarity equation at a boundary protruding corner point \(P\) of prescribed opening angle \(2\alpha\). Geometrically, surfaces of constant mean curvature \(H\) are sought as graphs which meet vertical walls over the boundary in prescribed angles, which are locally constant except for a possible jump discontinuity at \(P\). The conjecture is settled more or less completely in the affirmative manner, depending on whether \(H\) is to be prescribed. The proof proceeds through a global existence theorem for ``moon domains'', which seems to be of independent interest.