Minimal surfaces bounded by convex curves in parallel planes (Q807984)

The authors study compact minimal surfaces in \({\mathbb{R}}^ 3\) whose boundaries are given by a pair of convex Jordan curves. They prove that if \(\Gamma\) is a given pair of convex Jordan curves in distinct parallel planes in \({\mathbb{R}}^ 3\) then exactly one of the following holds: \(\Gamma\) is not the boundary of any connected compact minimal surface, with or without branch points; or \(\Gamma\) is the boundary of exactly one minimal annulus and this annulus is almost-stable. In this case, \(\Gamma\) bounds no other connected compact branched minimal surfaces; or \(\Gamma\) is the boundary of exactly two minimal annuli, one stable and one unstable. In this last case, the authors do not know if there exists an example of positive genus whose boundary is \(\Gamma\).