Harmonic map heat flow with free boundary (Q803551)

Theorem. Let N be a compact Riemannian manifold containing no minimal 2- sphere; and K a connected simply connected submanifold of N. Then there exists a minimal 2-disc in N with free boundary in K, meeting it orthogonally. The author uses the method of heat flow: Local existence is established by first proving a uniqueness theorem, and then applying Schauder's fixed point theorem. Global existence follows the argument of \textit{M. Struwe} [Comment. Mat. Helv. 60, 558-581 (1985; Zbl 0595.58013)].