A characterization of graphs which can be approximated in area by smooth graphs (Q5929657)

The paper deals with the problem of the approximation in area of a map \(u:\Omega\subset{\mathbb R}^n\to{\mathbb R}^N\) by smooth maps \(u_h\). Here approximation in area means that \(u_h\to u\) in \(L^1(\Omega)\) and the determinants of any \(k\times k\) minor of the \(N\times n\) Jacobian matrix of \(u_h\) converge in \(L^1(\Omega)\) to the corresponding determinant relative to \(u\), for \(1\leq k\leq n\wedge N\). The natural class where to look for an approximating sequence is \[ \text{ cart}^1(\Omega,{\mathbb R}^N):=\left\{ u\in W^{1,1}(\Omega,{\mathbb R}^N):\;|M(Du)|\in L^1(\Omega),\quad \partial G_u {\mathop{\text{\vrule height 7pt width .5pt depth 0pt\vrule height .5pt width 6pt depth 0pt}}\nolimits} \Omega\times{\mathbb R}^N=0 \right\}, \] where \(M(Du)\) is the vector made by all determinants of minors of \(Du\) and \(G_u\) is the \(n\)-current in \(\Omega\times{\mathbb R}^N\) associated to the integration on the graph of \(u\). However, recent examples due to Giaquinta, Modica and Souček and Malý show, for \(n=2\), the existence of maps in this class which are not approximable in area (due to topological obstructions). The main result of the paper is the proof that this is the only possible obstruction to the approximation. Namely, if \(u\in\text{ cart}^1(\Omega,{\mathbb R}^N)\) has the property that, for any \((n-2)\)-coordinate plane \(P\), the restriction of \(u\) to the 2-dimensional plane \(x^\perp\) is approximable for \({\mathcal H}^{n-2}\)-a.e. \(x\in P\), then \(u\) is approximable. A corollary about approximability of maps with small singular set is derived. The proof uses some results due to \textit{B. White} [Ann. Math. (2) 118, 179-185 (1983; Zbl 0526.49029)].