The second variational formula of the \(k\)-energy and \(k\)-harmonic curves (Q1951961)

Eells and Lemaire proposed the notion of \(k\)-harmonic maps in [\textit{J. Eells} and \textit{L. Lemaire}, Selected topics in harmonic maps. Reg. Conf. Ser. Math. 50 (1983; Zbl 0515.58011)]. These are mappings between manifolds which are stationary for a \(k\)-th order energy generalizing the Dirichlet energy for \(k=1\). The case \(k=2\) has been studied a lot recently, and \(2\)-harmonic maps are also known as intrinsically biharmonic maps. Here, the author calculates the second variation of \(k\)-energy and defines notions for weak stability. Another result is that a product map is \(k\)-harmonic if both of the factors are. Finally, \(k\)-harmonic curves in Riemannian manifolds with constant sectional curvature are studied in some detail.