An application of Gesztesy-Simon-Teschl oscillation theory to a problem in differential geometry (Q5946930)

The author applies the recent oscillation theorem for Sturm-Liouville differential operators given in the paper by \textit{F. Gesztesy, B. Simon}, and \textit{G. Teschl} [Am. J. Math. 118, 571-594 (1996; Zbl 0858.47027)], in the differential geometry of minimal surfaces. Recall that the oscillation theorem is a statement which relates the number of eigenvalues of a differential operator (usually of Sturm-Liouville type) below the essential spectrum and the number of zeros of a solution of the associated differential equation. Based on this relationship, the author shows that the minimal surface parametrized in the complex plane by \[ x_k(z)=c_k+\Re \left(\int_{z_0}^z \varphi_k(\zeta) d\zeta\right),\quad k=1,2,3, \] where \(c_k\) are real constant, \(\varphi_1=\frac{f}{2}(1-g^2)\), \(\varphi_2=i\frac{f}{2}(1+g^2)\), \(\varphi_3=fg\), and \(g(z)=z^n\), \(f(z)=1\), has the Morse index \(2n-1\).