Minimal graph-surfaces on arbitrary two-step Carnot groups (Q2281432)

The paper deals with two-step Carnot groups and their sub-Riemannian geometry. Maria Karmanova defines certain mappings called \textit{contact mappings} and their graphs; then she gives an expression for the area of such a graph and asks when it minimizes the area. First she investigates the right assumptions on the groups to make this problem well defined, then she expresses a sub-Riemannian analogue of the mean curvature which vanishes if and only if the graph-like surface minimizes the area. For more background about this kind of geometry, the reader can look at [\textit{M. Karmanova} and \textit{S. Vodop'yanov}, in: Analysis and mathematical physics. Lectures delivered at the international conference ``New trends in harmonic and complex analysis'', Voss, Norway, May 7--12, 2007. Basel: Birkhäuser. 233--335 (2009; Zbl 1297.53029)].