A monotonicity formula for stationary biharmonic maps (Q811843)

The monotonicity formula for harmonic maps has been adapted by [\textit{S.-Y. A. Chang, L. Wang, P. C. Yang}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 52, No. 9, 1113--1137 (1999; Zbl 0953.58013)] for extrinsically (and also intrinsically) biharmonic maps. It has been used in several regularity proofs since. However, its original proof may be valid only for maps more regular than \(W^{2,2}\) (which would be natural). The present paper gives a rigorous proof of the monotonicity formula that avoids steps not allowed in \(W^{2,2}\), thus filling a possible gap in the regularity theory of biharmonic maps.