A Bernstein property of some fourth order partial differential equations (Q2655718)

Following discussions with E. Calabi and L. Nirenberg (see the Foreword in [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 39, 839--866 (1986; Zbl 0623.53002)]), \textit{S.-Y. Cheng} and \textit{S. T. Yau} gave a geometric proof for the famous theorem of Jörgens-Calabi-Pogorelov on the quadratic solution of a special Monge-Ampère equation. Further developments of this procedure led to a \textit{geometric modelling technique} to solve certain Monge-Ampère equations, and Cheng and Yau and later the school of the first author of the present paper essentially contributed to such developments (see also the forthcoming monograph [\textit{A. M. Li, R. Xu, U. Simon, F. Jia}, Affine Bernstein Problems and Monge-Ampére Equations. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific. (2009; Zbl 1201.58022)]). In the present paper the authors investigate a highly nonlinear Monge-Ampére type PDE of fourth order and generalize the result of Jörgens-Calabi-Pogorelov. The unknown solution is a convex function defining locally a nonparametric hypersurface over \(\mathbb{R}^2\) for which it is possible to choose Calabi's constant normalization as a suitable relative normalization, and then to investigate the induced geometry. The next step involves derivation of estimates up to third order of various geometric invariants; a correct choice of the normalization is very important for successful completion of this step. The estimates are crucial for proving the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the given PDE. The PDE considered includes the affine maximal surface equation and also the Abreu equation as special cases. As a consequence, the paper contains a new proof for Chern's affine Bernstein conjecture. The lengthy and very difficult proof is well-structured.