Two-dimensional area minimizing integral currents are classical minimal surfaces

Abstract

Geometric measure theory guarantees the existence of area minimizing integral currents spanning a given boundary or representing a given integral homology class on a compact Riemannian manifold. We study the regularity of such generalized surfaces. We prove that in case the dimension of the area minimizing integral currents is two, then they are classical minimal surfaces. Among the consequences of this regularity result, we know now that any two dimensional integral homology class on a compact Riemannian manifold can be represented by a finite integral linear combination of classical closed minimal surfaces that have only finitely many intersection points. The result is proved by using the theory of multiple-valued functions developed by F. Almgren in [A]. We extend many important estimates in his paper and extend his construction of center manifolds. We use the branched center manifolds and lowest order term in the multiple-valued functions approximating the area minimizing currents to construct two sequences of branched surfaces near an interior singular point to separate the nearby singularity gradually. The analysis developed in this paper enables us to conclude the generalized surface must coincide with one of the branched surfaces.