Local removable singularity theorems for minimal laminations

Minimal surfaces and optimization (49Q05) Minimal surfaces in differential geometry, surfaces with prescribed mean curvature (53A10) Foliations (differential geometric aspects) (53C12) Differential geometry of immersions (minimal, prescribed curvature, tight, etc.) (53C42)

Abstract: In this paper we prove a local removable singularity theorem for certain minimal laminations with isolated singularities in a Riemannian three-manifold. This removable singularity theorem is the key result used in our proof that a complete, embedded minimal surface in

m a t h b b R^{3}

with quadratic decay of curvature has finite total curvature.

Review text

Given a three-manifold \(N\) and a point \(p \in N\), let us denote by \(d_N\) the distance function in \(N\) to \(p\) and by \(B_N(p,r)\) the open metric ball of center \(p\) and radius \(r > 0\). For a lamination \(\mathcal L\) of \(N\) and a leaf \(L\) of \(\mathcal L\), let us denote by \(|\sigma_L|\) the norm of the second fundamental form of \(L\). Since the leaves of \(L\) do not intersect, it makes sense to consider the norm of the second fundamental form as a function defined on the union of the leaves of \(\mathcal L\), which we denote by \(|\sigma_{\mathcal L}|\). In the case \(N = \mathbb{R}^3\), we use the notation \(\mathbb{B}(p,r) = B_{\mathbb{R}^3}(p,r)\) and \(\mathbb{B}(r) = B(O,r)\), where \(O\) is the origin of \(\mathbb{R}^3\). Furthermore, \(R:\mathbb{R}^3 \to \mathbb{R}\) will stand for the distance function to the origin \(O\in\mathbb{R}^3\). Finally, for a surface \(M \subset \mathbb{R}^3\), \(K_M\) denotes its Gaussian curvature function. We say that a minimal surface \(M\) in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) has quadratic decay of curvature if \(|K_M|R^2\) is bounded on \(M\). One of the main objectives of the present paper is to prove the following local removable singularity theorem. \textbf{Theorem 1} (Local Removable Singularity Theorem). A minimal lamination \(\mathcal L\) of a punctured ball \(B_N(p, r)- \{p\}\) in a Riemannian three-manifold \(N\) extends to a minimal lamination of \(B_N(p, r)\) if and only if there exists a positive constant \(C\) such that \(|\sigma_{\mathcal L}| d_N \leq C\) in some subball. In particular under this hypothesis, \(a)\) The curvature of \(\mathcal{L}\) is bounded in a neighborhood of \(p\). \(b)\) If \(\mathcal L\) consists of a single leaf \(M \subset B_N(p,r)-\{p\}\) which is a properly embedded minimal surface, then \(M\) extends smoothly through \(p\). The above theorem is the main tool in the proof of the following result. \textbf{Theorem 2} (Quadratic Curvature Decay Theorem). A complete, embedded minimal surface \(M\) in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) with compact (possibly empty) boundary has quadratic decay of curvature if and only if it has finite total curvature. In particular, a complete, connected embedded minimal surface \(M \subset \mathbb{R}^3\) with compact boundary and quadratic decay of curvature is properly embedded in \(\mathbb{R}^3\). Furthermore, if \(C\) is the maximum of the logarithmic growths of the ends of \(M\), then \[ \lim_{R\to\infty} \sup_{M-\mathbb{B}(R)} |K_M|R^4=C^2. \]

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