Maps into manifolds and currents: area and \(W^{1,2}\)-, \(W^{1/2}\)-, \(BV\)-energies (Q2509119)

The volume is concerned with the question of defining some integral functionals of the calculus of variations for maps between manifolds. One of the key examples is given by the Dirichlet integral \[ F(u)=\int_B|Du |^2\,dx \] where \(B\) is the unit ball of \(\mathbb{R}^n\) and \(u:B\to Y\), being \(Y\) a smooth Riemannian manifold without boundary. When \(u\) is a smooth map the definition of the Dirichlet integral above is straightforward; on the contrary, some deep analysis is required if one wants to characterize the domain of the so-called relaxed functional, that is the class of all functions \(u:B\to Y\) that are limit points, in some suitable convergence, sequences \((u_k)\) of smooth maps with equibounded energy: \[ \sup_kF(u_k)<+\infty. \] The topology of \(Y\) then plays an important role, as well as the fact that boundary data \(u=\varphi\) on \(\partial B\) are imposed. Another typical example is the total variation functional, that for smooth maps \(u:B\to Y\) is given by \[ F(u)=\int_B|Du|\,dx. \] The natural framework to study the problems above is the one of geometric measure theory. The book then devotes an important part to introduce the basic geometric tools as currents, flat chains, rectifiability, area and coarea formulas. The book aims to provide an unified way to define variational integrals for maps with values into a manifold, on their natural domains; the reader may find in the volume the various approaches that have been followed in the literature, as well as a rigorous and complete presentation of the geometric measure theory tools that are needed in this very delicate subject.