Conformally invariant variational integrals and the removability of isolated singularities (Q796096)

It is well-known [\textit{J. Frehse}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. A 289, 751-753 (1979; Zbl 0423.35001)] that weak solutions of the variational problem \[ (1)\quad \min I[u]=\min \int_{\Omega}F(x,u(x)Du(x))dx, \] with \(\Omega =\Omega^ 0\subset R^ 2,\quad u:\Omega \to {\mathbb{R}}^ n,\quad n>1,\) and where F is an ''integrand of quadratic growth'', are in general not ''regular''. However, by virtue of the natural geometric background of many variational problems, the conjecture rose that the stationary points of problem (1), relative to integrals I[u] which are invariant under conformal mappings, are regular indeed [\textit{S. Hildebrandt}, Differential geometry and differential equations, Proc. 1980 Beijing Sympos., Vol. 1, 481-615 (1982; Zbl 0515.58012)]. Thus the aim of the present paper is to give a contribution to the affirmative answer of such a conjecture. In particular the author analyses the structure of integrands F leading to conformal invariant integrals I[u] and shows that, in this case, I[u] can be regarded as an ''H-surface functional'' by introducing a suitable Riemann metric on the tangent space \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\). Moreover, he proves the removability of isolated singularities of classical solutions in a special case.