A variational approach to a problem arising in capillarity theory (Q678665)

The author gives an existence proof for a capillary surface in a circular tube. It is assumed that the boundary contact angle \(\gamma\) is away from its critical value \(\gamma=0\) or \(\pi\) where the gradient of the graph becomes necessarily unbounded near the boundary. The proof is based on a variational principle. The first proof of this result, using another method which works also in the case \(\gamma=0\) or \(\pi\), was given by \textit{W. E. Johnson} and \textit{L. M. Perko} [Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 29, 125-143 (1968; Zbl 0162.57002)]. See also the book of \textit{R. Finn} [Equilibrium capillary surfaces. New York etc.: Springer-Verlag (1986; Zbl 0583.35002)] for more general existence proofs.