Alm Gren

Annals of Mathematics
Existence and Regularity Almost Everywhere of Solutions to Elliptic Variational Problems

among Surfaces of Varying Topological Type and Singularity Structure
Author(s): F. J. Almgren, Jr.
Reviewed work(s):
Source: Annals of Mathematics, Second Series, Vol. 87, No. 2 (Mar., 1968), pp. 321-391
Published by: Annals of Mathematics
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Existenceand regularity almosteverywhere
of solutionsto ellipticvariational
problemsamongsurfacesof
varyingtopological typeand
singularity
structure*
By F. J. ALMGREN,JR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. A summaryof the principal results

2. Some geometricmeasures and mappings
3. Existence and compactnesstheorems
4. Some estimates involvingarea excess
5. Some consequencesof ellipticity
6. Second order estimates on J minimalsurfaces lyingnear a disk
7. Regularityof F minimalsurfaces lyingnear a disk
1. A summary of the principal results

The main existence, regularity, and compactness results of this paper
appear in Theorems 1.4 and 1.7 to the proof of which most of the rest of
this paper is devoted. The most general form of the regularity results ap-
pears in Theorem 7.6.
1.1. Definitions and Notation. ( 1 ) m and n denote positive integers.
( 2 ) Rm+" [resp. Mm+%]denotes euclidean space of dimension m + n [resp.
a compact riemannian manifold of dimension m ? n without boundary].
( 3) Hk denotes Hausdorffk dimensional measure on Rm+n[resp. on Mm+n]
for k =m m - 1 (see 2.2).
(4) Pmdenotes the Grassmann manifoldof unorientedm plane directions
in Rm+n(which can be regarded as the space of all m planes through the origin
in Rmn+). Rn+nx Pm[resp.PmMn+"]denotes the bundle of all unoriented
tangent m plane directions over Rm+n[resp. over Mm+%].
( 5 ) A C0k) integrand (real analytic integrand) is a function (real ana-
lytic function)
F: Rm+, x Pm, Rn {t: t > O}
[resp. F: PmM -+" R n {t: t> O}, assuming, of course, that Mm+nis of class
* This research was supported in part by grant NSF-GP 3946 from the National
Science Foundation.

322 F. J. ALMGREN, JR.
k + 1 (real analytic)]whose partial derivatives up to order k exist and are

continuous. Here k denoteseithera positiveintegeror oo.
( 6 ) A surface S is a compactm rectifiablesubsetofRn+n[resp.ofMm+"]
(see 2.3). If S is a surfacethen forHmalmostall x c S, S has an approximate
tangentm plane directionat x, denotedS(x).
( 7) The integralof an integrandF over a surfaceS is definedto be
F(S) 5 F(x, S(x))dHnx.
( 8) A boundaryB is a compactm - 1 rectifiablesubset of Rm+n[resp.

of Mm+"]with Hm, (B) < co.
( 9 ) G denotesessentiallythe categoryof all finitelygenerated abelian
groups(see 2.4). If B is a boundary,S is a surface, and G e G, we denote
by Hm(Rm+n, B, G) and Hm(Rm+-,B U S; G)[resp. Hmn(Mm+n,B; G) and Hm(Mm+n,
B U S; G)] the m dimensionalVietorisrelativehomologygroupsof (Rm-+", B)
and (Rmn+, B U S)[resp. of (Mm+n, B) and (Mm+7,B U S)] respectivelywith
in
coefficients G. If a e Hm(Rf+n,B; G)[resp.a C Hm(Mm+n,B; G) whereB may
be empty],we say that G spans a if and onlyif i(a)- 0 where
i.: Hm(Rn+n,B; G) B
3 Hm(Rmf+n U S; G)
[resp. i*: Hm(Mm+n,B; G) - Hm(Mm+n,B U S; G)] is induced by the inclusion
i: (Rm+?,B) - (Rf+n, B U S)[resp. i: (Mm+n,B) (Mm n,B U S)]. -
1.2. Elliptic integrands. Let F be an integrandand xe Rm7"[resp.

x c Mm+f].We denoteby Fx: Rmn+x PIm R the integrandgivenfory C Rm+n,
rel'. by
Fx(y, r) = F(x, 7w)
[notingthat Im is the fiberin rmMm-+ at x]. SupposeG e G and D is a closed

m disk in Rm+nLet aD denote the boundarym - 1 sphere of D, and a e
H.(Rm+1, aD; G) - {0}. As a hypothesison our integrandF, we need to require
that the unique surfacewhichspans a and minimizesFXbe D itself,and that
thisbe truein a uniformway. Moreprecisely,we call the integrandF elliptic
with respectto G if and onlyif thereexists a continuousfunctionc: Rm+n
R i{t: t > O}[resp.c: Mm~rn R n {t: t > O}] such that whenever x e Rm+n
-
[resp.x e Mn+m], D c Rm+n is any closedm disk in R-+", a e Hm(Rn+n,aD; G)-

{0}, and S is a surfacewhichspans a, then
(*) Fx(S) - Fx(D) > c(x)L[m(S) - Hm(D)]
The ellipticityof F with respectto any non-trivialG c G is equivalentto the
uniformconvexityof each Fx if n = 1 and (*) is impliedby the uniformcon-
vexityof Fx forarbitraryn when S is orientableand has aD as its oriented

ELLIPTIC VARIATIONAL PROBLEMS 323
boundary. The class of integrandsFX, which are elliptic with respect to all non-
trivial G E G, formsa convex set in the space of all functionsP.mR which set,
in particular, contains a neighborhoodof the m area integrand (i.e., F_ 1) in
the C02) topology. Also if f: Rm+n Rm+n -[resp.f: Mm-+ Mm-+] is a diffeo-
morphism,then f#F(see 3.1) is elliptic with respect to G if and only if F is.
We call F bounded if and only if
inf im F/sup im F > 0 .
1.3. Regularity of surfaces. Let S be a surface, and let k be either a
positive integer or ao [and Mm-+ be of class k + 1 (real analytic)]. We say
that S is C(k) regular almost everywhere (real analytic almost everywhere)
if and only if there is a (possibly empty) compact subset T of S with Hm(T) 0=
such that S - T is a k times continuously differentiable(real analytic) sub-
manifoldof Rm-+[resp. of Mm-+7]
of dimensionm.
Examples show that, except possibly for G the group of integers modulo
two, a surface S minimizingthe integral of an elliptic integrand may have
singularities of dimension m - 1. Present techniques are not adequate to
show that the singular set T - B (for a suitable boundary B) is regular or,
even locally, of finiteHmt measure.
1.4. THEOREM. Let k > 3 be either a positive integer or co and G E G.
Suppose F is a C(k) integrand (real analytic integrand) which is bounded
and elliptic with respect to G, B is a boundary, and a e Hm(Rm-+,B; G)[resp.
a e Hm(Mm-+,B; G)]. Then there exists a surface S with the following
properties:
( 1 ) S spans a.
(2) F(S) < F(T) whenever T is a surface which spans a.
(3) S is C(k-1) regular almost everywhere (real analytic almost every-
where).
1.5. Remark. For some applications one wishes to know that, for a
prescribed boundary B, there exists among all surfaces having B as boundary
in a topologically non-trivial way (either locally or globally) a surface mini-
mizing the integral of an integrand. Figure 1-6 in [A3] shows an example
due to J. F. Adams of a soap filmwhich, although locally minimizing area,
nevertheless retracts onto its boundary. In the followingsections we indicate
some compactness and regularity properties of surfaces which minimize the
integral of an elliptic integrand in a topological sense weaker than that
required in 1.4.
1.6. Definitions. ( 1 ) Suppose S is a surface, B is a boundary, F is an

integrand, and U ={ U1, U2,U3, * - -} is an open covering of Rm+n

[resp. of Mm+?].
We say that S is F minimal with respect to B and U if and only if F(S) ?
F(T) wherever, for some positive integer j, T is the image of S under a con-
tinuously differentiable deformation which keeps B and Rm+n- Uj [resp.
Mm-+ - Uj] fixed.
(2) We call an integrand F elliptic (without reference to a coefficient
group) if and only if there is a continuous function c as in 1.2 such that (*)
holds wherever D is an m disk in Rm-+and S is a surface which cannot be
deformed into AD by a smooth map leaving AD fixed. As before, the elliptic-
ity of F is equivalent to the uniform convexity of each FX if n 1
I, and the
class of elliptic integrands FX forms a convex set in the space of all functions
Fin -R which set, in particular, contains a neighborhood of the m area
integrand in the C02) topology. Also if f is a diffeomorphism,then foF is
elliptic if and only if F is.
( 3 ) Each surface S is naturally a measure I S I on Rm-+x Jm [resp. on
'mMm-+7] called the integral varifold associated with S (see 2.6(d)). The
weak topology on the space of all Radon measures on Rmn+x JPm
[resp. I'mMmn+7]
induces the weak topology on the space of all surfaces.
1.7. THEOREM. Let k ? 3 be either a positive integer or ao. Suppose F
is a C(k') integrand (real analytic integrand) which is elliptic, B is a bound-
ary, U is an open covering of Rm-+ [resp. of Mm+%],K c Rm-+is compact,
andM< a.
( 1 ) If S is a surface which is F minimal with respect to B and U, then
S is C(k1-) regular almost everywhere (real analytic almost everywhere).
( 2) If B is a smooth neighborhood retract, then the space of all sur-
faces S c K [resp. S c Mm+%] which are F minimal with respect to B and U
and for which F(S) < M is compact in the weak topology, and F is a con-
tinuous function on this space.
1.8. Remark. Conclusion (2) of 1.7 is of particular interest when there
is a positive lower bound to the numbers F(T) for non-trivial surfaces T
which are F minimal with respect to B and U. One sufficientcondition to
imply the existence of such a positive lower bound is that B be a smooth
neighborhood retract (which would be true if B were a compact differentiable
submanifold of Rm+n[resp. of Mm-+]of dimension m - 1) and B ( U1E U.
See [A2 11.1(4),(5), 11.3, 11.4, 11.5][A3 Fig. 1-6, 1-9, 4-7]. Also, examples
show that the hypothesis in 1.7(2) that the surfaces S all lie in a fixed
compact set K is a necessary one for the asserted compactness.
1.9. Remark. In case G is the group of integers, n 1
I, and F 1 on

Rm+nx jpm, the regularity almost everywhere of S minimizing F can be in-

fered fromthe work of E. De Giorgi [D]. In case G is a finiteabelian group and
F 1, the existence and regularity almost everywhere of S spanning a and
minimizingF as in 1.4 was proved in R-,, by the late E. R. Reifenberg [Ri,
R2, R3] and extended to manifolds by C. B. Morrey [M]. It does not seem
possible to extend the arguments of De Giorgi or of Reifenberg to general
elliptic integrands. In particular, the orthogonal invariance of the m area
integrand F 1 is essential for the applicability of Reifenberg's methods.
The present results are geometrically and measure theoreticallybased on
the integral currents of H. Federer and W. H. Fleming [FF], the flat chains
of Fleming [FL] and integral varifolds [A2](see 2.6(d)(f)). Some of the basic
analytic estimates for the firstderivatives of F minimal surfaces come from
bounds on the firstand second derivatives of distributionsolutions to elliptic
systems of second order linear partial differentialequations with constant
coefficients(see 5.5), for help with which I am indebted to L. Hormander.
Higher differentiablityof the surfaces follows fromthe work of C. B. Morrey
[M](see 5.6).
1.10. Various formulations of the problem. The problem of finding a
surface minimizingthe integral of an integrand among all surfaces having a
prescribed boundary is, of course, a collection of problems,the precise formu-
lation of each problem depending on the definitionsone adopts for "surface,"
"boundary," and "integral of an integrand". Classically one has considered
surfaces as mappings in a fixed homotopy class of mappings from a fixed
manifoldof dimensionm into a fixed manifoldof dimension m + n. Attempts
to minimize the integral of an integrand in parametric form (i.e., the value
of the integral is independent of the parametrization of the domain as is the
case, for example, with the area integrand), and show regularity of the
solutions have thus far been unsuccessful when m is larger than 2, and n is
larger than 1 [M 1.7, 1.10, 6.1]. Indeed, examples suggest rather forcefully
that the problem,rather than being a homotopyproblem, is more naturally a
homology problem; see [A2 11.1][A3] for some such examples. In fact it seems
reasonable to hope that once the structure of singular sets of "homology
solutions" is understood, one will be able to solve the classical homotopy
problem as a consequence of the homology solution. There has already been
progress in this direction in the case of the higher dimensional area
integrands based on the existence of tangent cones at all points of stationary
integral varifolds [A2 10].
Within the frameworkof the homology approach, there are two different
natural formulationsof the problem, the differencedepending on whether or

not one counts multiplicities in evaluating the integrand. For example, if

F: Rm-+ x Fm R is continuous and V =A| i S e Vm(Z+) as in 2.6(c)
where the Si are disjoint m rectifiable subsets of Rm+?,the integral of F over
V not counting multiplicities is Ad F(S,), while the integral of F over V
counting multiplicites is Ad iF(S,). It is usually the integral of F over V not
counting multiplicities which we attempt to minimize in this paper (although
in practice this is accomplished by forcing Si = 0 for i > 1 in the problem
counting multiplicities).
Typically the problem counting multiplicities would arise in seeking
among all S E Zm(G) (2.6(e)) having a prescribed chain boundary some S mini-
mizing the integral of F over I S I counting multiplicities. One calls F elliptic
with respect to G in this case if the conditions of 1.2 hold with the obvious
reformulation with M replacing Hm. Ellipticity implies the lower semi-conti-
nuity of the integral of F counting multiplicities. This together with the
boundedness of F is sufficientto imply the existence of a solution S. By
7.6 (1), spt(S) - spt(aS) is regular in a neighborhoodof each point p E spt(S) -
spt(DS) where spt(S) admits a tangent m plane and for which the mass
density at p, i.e., ( S i, p), equals 1. Although many of the estimates
and constructions of this paper apply to neighborhoods of points p E set S -
spt (DS) at which spt(S) admits a tangent m plane and for which the mass
density is higher than 1, new results are needed to show that spt(S) is regular
in the neighborhood of such a point when the codimension n is larger than 1.
For expositional reasons, it does not seem wise always to state as sepa-
rate results variations of certain propositions corresponding to differentfor-
mulations of the problem,and thus we sometimesphrase a result in one context
with the understanding that the analogous results in other contexts are true
as needed. In particular, we sometimes state and prove a theorem in the
context of G chains having chain boundaries, with the understanding that the
analogous result for rectifiablesets which do not admit deformation retrac-
tions onto their boundaries is true, and that constructions based on intersec-
tions can be approximated by deformations (see, for example, 2.9(a)(b)). Also
we will consider only surfaces in R-+n,the extension to manifolds being trivial.
2. Some geometric measures and mappings

Here we give a summary of the basic measure theoretic and geometric
informationupon which this paper is based. The proofs of statements, where
not provided, are either fairly routine generalizations of, or can be found
among the results of, [A1][A2][F1][F2][FF][FL], and will be systematically
presented in [F4]. For the firstreading of this paper, it would probably be

best for the reader to skip Chapters 2 and 3, except for occasional references
to this chapter for definitions,and to read the remaining chapters, assuming
that the surface minimizingthe integral of an elliptic integrand is an integral
current [FF], or a flat chain with coefficientsin the integers modulo two [FL].
The essential structure of the regularity arguments will be clear in this
context, and one can later follow the modificationsof the arguments necessary
to prove regularity in the general case.
We will assume throughout this chapter that m, n, q are positive inte-
gers, and k is an integer with 0 < k < min {m + n, q} and, where clear from
context, k > 1.
2.1. The Grassmann manifolds Pk and P* and the Grassmann vector
space Ak. We denote by ]k = Fk(Rmn) the usual Grassmann manifold of
unoriented k plane directions in Rm+n(which can be regarded as the space of
all unorientedk planes through the origin in Rm+f).We also regard Fk as the
space of all orthogonal projections of Rm-+onto a k dimensional subspace. Pk
admits a unique measure pawhich is invariant under the action of the orthog-
onal group O(m + n) on Fk such that the measure of ],k is 1.
We denote by 1U*= FU*(Rr+nf)the usual Grassmann manifoldof oriented k
plane directions in Rm+n.P * is a twofold covering of 17kunder the mapping y
which maps each oriented k plane through the origin in Rm'+ to the same
plane without the orientation.
We denote by Ak= Ak(Rm-+)the vector space of all k-vectors in Rm+n If
f: Rm+n - Rq is continuously differentiable, then fo(p): Ak(Rm-+) Ak(Rq) is -f
definedin the usual way for each p e R-+f. 1F*is associated in a natural way
with the subset of all simple unit k-vectors in Ak by the mapping X: F * Ak,
which associates with each oriented k plane directionin Rm-+the unit k-vector
having that k plane direction. For 7wE k*, we write -w = (
-X(7r)). Also
we call a functionF: rmn R uniformlyconvex if and only if F No X oa-1 for
some uniformlyconvex norm N on Ak,.
2.2. Hausdorff measure. Hausdorff k dimensional measure Hk= H,+n
on Rm-+is defined as follows. If S c- +n then H,(S) equals the limit as
r e 0+ of the infimumof the sums BeF 2-ka(k) diameter(B)k corresponding
to all countable coverings F of S such that diameter(B) < r for B C F. Here
a(k) denotes the k area of the unit k ball in Rm+n All Borel subsets of R-+n,
as well as all images and inverse images of Borel sets, are Hk measurable for
continuous mappings Rm-+ Rqb
Hausdorffk dimensional measure gives a precise meaning to the notion
of k dimensional area in R-+n,and is the basic measure used in defininga
theory of integration over k dimensional surfaces in Rm-+which may have

singularities. The Hausdorffk dimensional measure of a smooth k dimensional

submanifold of Rm-nagrees with any other reasonable definitionof the k area
of such a manifold.
2.3. Rectifiablesets. A subset S of Rm-+is called k rectifiableif and
only if S is bounded and Hk measurable with Hk(S) < co, and for each s > 0,
there exists a continuously differentiablecompact submanifold M of Rm-+of
dimension k such that
Hk([R - M] U [Ma- S]) < s .
If S, T cRm-+ are k rectifiable, U c^Rm+ is Hk measurable, and f: Rm-+,
Rq is lipschitzian, then the following sets are k rectifiable: S U T, S - T,
s f T, S U, S n U, f (S), furthermore Hk(f (S)) ? Lip (f)klHk(S).
Also if A c Rm+nis bounded and Hk measurable with Hk(A) < 00. Then
A =S U U Hk almost uniquely where S is k rectifiable, U is purely k unrecti-
fiable (i.e., Hk(wr(U)) = 0 for Aealmost all W X 1k), and S n Ua 0 [Fl 9.6].
If S c Rm-+is k rectifiable,then for Hk almost all x e S, S has an approx-
imate tangent k plane direction, denoted S(x), at x. The mapping S: S tFk
sending Hk almost all x C S to S(x) E Fk is Hk measurable.

By an orientedk rectifiablesubsetof R-+n,we mean a k rectifiablesub-
set S of RmI+together with an Hk measurable mapping S*: S ]UF,defined
for Hk almost all of S, such that yoS* S. We write -S* = >-lo (_X)S*.
If S, T c Rt+" are oriented k rectifiable sets, we write
s nf*T S nTf {x: s*(x) = T*(x)} .
If S c Rm-+ is k rectifiable, and f: Rm-+ , RI is lipschitzian with
k- p ? 0, then for Hi almost all y e RV, S nf-f1(y)is k -p rectifiable and
o nf (y))dHpy
XeS Ii( z*T S(x))O(O)I AV]I dHkX =RVHkRP(s
where zx: Rm+n Rm+n
-* denotes translation by x.
The k rectifiable subsets of Rm+',although the limits of smooth k mani-
folds in a very strong sense, nevertheless can have a wide class of singularities
(in fact, even though compact, they need not contain any subset which is a
smooth manifold). These sets are precisely the largest class of bounded sub-
sets of Rm-+for which the integrals of the integrands considered in this paper
are well definedin a natural way. The m rectifiablesets S occurring as solution
surfaces in this paper are all compact, and it is the chief result of this paper
that, in a neighborhood of each point x e S at which S(x) is defined, S is a
smooth submanifold of Rm-+of dimension m.
2.4. Finitely generated abelian groups and their absolute value func-
tions. We denote by G the space of all non-trivial finitedirect sums of cyclic
groups, i.e., an element G of G is a finitelygenerated abelian group together

with a particular representation of G as a direct sum of cyclic groups. If G

is the group of integers Z and z e Z, we denote by I z I the usual absolute value
of z. If p is a positive integer, z e Z, and g = z + pZ e Z/pZ = Z, we set
jgj -
inf{z + pyj:yeZ}.
If
G = ZP *** ZPk Z ** Z
and .
a = glD3 .. (Dgk gk+1E) EgqeG,
we set
gi .Ig =
2.5. Simplicial chains. Let G e G. By a simplicial k chain T in Rm-+
with coefficientsin G, we mean a function
T:Qk >G
such that T-'(G - {O}) is finite,where Qk is the k dimensional skeleton of some
simplicial complex Q (consisting of oriented simplexes of dimensions 0, 1, ...,
m + n) which triangulatesR-+n. The boundary,aT, of T is definedin the

sense of simplicial homologytheory, and is a simplicial k - 1 chain in Rm+n
with coefficientsin G. Since a(aT) = O. aT is called a simplicial k - 1 cycle.
If T is a simplicial k chain in Rm+n
with coefficientsin G as above, we write
T -
is
where {S1, ,S} = Qk n{S: T(S) # O} and g, = T(S,) for i = 1, *., p.

2.6. Some geometricmeasures. We will now definethe measures and
measure theoretic surfaces of the following commutative diagram.
R+La
R+ Zk(A, B, G) > Zk-l(B, 0; G)
n (A-B)
Ic Zk(A/B,G)
IC/
R+ < M Vk(G) -Vk(R +7; G) - Vk(Rq;G)
| 1 Vk(Z+) = Vk(Rm+n; Z+) - Vk(Rq; Z+)

C
{
R+ R+
\L{1/ ___
R M Vk = Vk(R+-> Vk(Rq)
R+ -111
R+ < W =W(Rm~n~) W(R)

Here we assume G e G, B c A c Rm+n1 are Borel sets, and f, g, h: Rm+n1 Rq

and h continuous.
withf lipschitzian,g continuouslydifferentiable,
=
(a) W W(R-+f) denotes the vector space of all finitesigned Borel
measures on Rmn'+which have compact support. For K c R-+1f,we set
W(K) = W n{ W: spt (W) c K}. For W e W we set
M(W) = W+(Rm+-)+ W-(R-+-)
and
L(W) = sup{ W(9p):(p:Rn+n R with Ijp I < 1 and Lip(9p)< 1} .
Note that, if K c R-+n is compactand M < &o, then
W(K) nf{W: M(W) < M}
is compactin the L metrictopology(which coincideswith the usual weak
on this space. M is continuous
topology),and thatM is lowersemi-continuous
howeveron
W+(K) = W(K) n{W: W= W+}.
For W e W(Rn+1),h$W c W(Rq) whereh# W(A) W(h-'(A)) forA c Rq.
(b) Vk = Vk(R+nf) denotes the vectorspace of all finitesigned Borel
measureson Rm+nX 'k whichhave compactsupport. An elementV of Vk is
called a varifold of dimension k in R-+n For K cR-+ we set Vk(K) =
Vk f{V: spt (V) c K x Fk}. For VG Vk we define VI I = pV e W, where
p: R-+m, x ,Pk R-+m, is the projectionontothe firstfactor,and set M(V) =
M(lj V+ I1)+ M(HV- I1). For VG Vk we set also
L(V) = sup {V(9p): (p: Rn+n X F,-k R with I cpI < 1 and Lip(9) < 1} .
Note that if K c R-+n is compactand M < a, then
VAK(K) n {V: M(W) < M}
on
is compactin the L metrictopology,and that M is lower semi-continuous
this space. M is continuoushowever on Vk+(K) = V(K) n {v: v = v+}.
Unless otherwisespecified,Vk will always carrythe L metrictopology.
If (p, A: R-+n x Pm R are bounded Baire functions and V G Vk, we
-
defineV A eGVk by requiring(V A 9)(p )= V(9.i/r). One often regards

9: Rm+n R as a function on Rm~+n
- x Fm in the obvious way.
The mapping g#:Vk(R+nf) Vk(Rq) is definedas follows. First we set
g: Rmn+n x Pk(Rmn+n) Rq x Pk(Rq)

g(x, 7r)= (g(x), Dg(x, 7w))
forx e Rn+nand 7wC Fk. Note that g is definedat (x, 7r)if and onlyif

I g#(x)(ax 0 ) I ?0.
Then we define
g#V = g$(V A I g#(.)(X?'(*)) |) Vk(Rq),
where g, is the usual mappingof measures given for A c Rq x fk(Rq) by
g#(VTA I g,(*)(x o 7-1(.)) 1)(A) = V A I g#(.)(x o 7-1(.)) J(g-1(A))
and
g#(*)(' o 7-1(*)) I(X, I) = I g#(x)(x oa-1r) 1
for each xeRRm-+and we Pk(Rm+n). This definitionfor g$ preserves the

geometricpropertiesof integralvarifolds. Note that g#is continuousin the
L metrictopology.
(c) Vk(Z+) = Vk(Rm~ff;Z+) is the subset of Vt definedas follows. Let
S c(-Rm+ be k rectifiable.Then the the varifoldI S I correspondingto S is
givenby
I S I = (1, S)#(Hk n s) ,
wherethemap (1, S) sendsHk almostall x e S to (x,S(x)) e Rm-+x Pk. Vk(Z+)
consistsof all finiteor convergentinfinitesums of the varifoldsI S I corre-
spondingto k rectifiablesets S ci Rm-+whoseunionis bounded. If V C Vk(Z+),
thenwe can writeHk almostuniquely
V=Z _i I SiI
where S, S2, S3, -- are disjoint k rectifiablesets, UiSi is bounded, and
M(V) = L iHk(Si) < C>0

For x e Si forsome i, we oftenwriteV(x) = S*(x).
For V = i Si Ge Vk(Z+), we define
fx V = If(UiSi) I A z G Vk(Rq; Z +),

where z: Rq R.
Z(y) = Ef(x)=y Z(X)

in which z(x) = i if x e Si for some i, and z(x) = 0 otherwise. If f is continu-
ouslydifferentiable, thenf#,as definedabove, agrees withthedefinition in (b).
We abbreviate11 I S I 11= I1S II.
To each class 3 vectorfieldv: Rm+nR- + , we associate the deformation
v: R x Rm+nR- +nJv(t, x) = x + tv(x) for t e R, x e Rm+" and define the
functions

J(*,iv): VC R
2(V, v) (d/dt)M(vo[O,t] x V) , (see 2.8)
$?P Vk X Vk-1 R+
9P(V, W) sup {2e(V, v)-'[I5(V, v) - 2(W, v)]:
v: R-+fR-+n is a class 3 vectorfield and 2(V, v) > 01.
If M is a compactclass 3 differentiablesubmanifold of Rm+nof dimension
k havingboundary aM, then 9E( M 1,1aM 1) equals k timesthe maximummean
curvatureof M in R'+-, this maximumbeing taken over all points in M
and all normaldirectionsat each such point. Furthermore9P is lower semi-
continuouson V+ x Vk+1in the L x L metrictopologyand, if K c Rm+nis
compact and 4a, t <Ko, then
Vk(K; Z+) x V+ 1(K) nf{v, w): M(V) < ,a,M(W) : ,1a,and 90(V, W) < w}
is compactin the L x L topology[A2, A3].
An elementofVk(Z+) is called a Z+ varifoldof dimensionk in R +7, or,
for short, an integral varifold.
(d) Vk(G) = Vk(Rm-+';G) consists of all finiteBorel measures S with
compact support on Rml+ x P* x G which can be expressed
1gCG-[{O gSg + (-g)S(g9,,

where
(i) {S,: g e G -{0}} is a disjointedfamilyof orientedk rectifiable
sets havingboundedunionsuch that
M(S) = EgeG-() |g Hk(Sg) < 00
(ii) gSg = (1, S*, g)O(Hk n Sg) where (1, S *,g) sends Hk almost all
XCSg
x to (x, S*(x), g)c Rm+n x F7* x G foreach g c G {0}.
We oftenwrite
S = Eg6G~-{O1 Sg
The reason for the negativetermsin the measureabove is the ambiguityin
sign forcoefficients.
the choiceof orientationand corresponding
If S = IgeG-(o) gSg as above, then
S |=EgEG{O} Ig Sg9
Ei"=1i I U,91=iS9 I CVk(Z+).
We write also -S = EgIG {-} (-g)Sg. For S = - gSg,
g G{o} T =1:h6G-
{ol hTh
C Vk(G), we define
S + T = IkeGG{-(1 k(S + T)k G Vk(G),

where (S + T)k is an orientedk rectifiableset constructedas follows. First

choose E c G -{0} such that En-E = 0, E U -E = G -{0}, and set
(S+ T)k= 0 if kiE,
and fork e E,
(S + T)k = [(Sk U - S-k) - Uh Th]
U [(Tk U -Tk) - Uy Sg]

U [Ug+hk Sg nf Th]
U [U-g+h=k - Sg nf Thj
U IUg-h=k Sg nf- T- h]
U [U-g-h=k -S-g n - T_
Th]
Clearly M(S + T) < M(S) + M(T). Setting S -T S + (-T), we have

given Vk(G) the structure of an abelian group.
For S = jgSeG,{o gSgG Vk(Rm+n;G) as above, we set
fAS -
EhCG-0 h(f#S)h G Vk(Rq; G) ,
where (f#S)h is definedas follows. First choose an orientationfor f Ug Sg
and call this orientedk rectifiableset A. For x e R-+n,we write
h(x) = g if x e Sg forsome g and (f o ZC? Sg(X))#(O,XS*(x)) exists and is a
positivemultipleof XA*(f(x));
h(x) -g if X GSg forsomeg and (f o ZC? Sg(X))#(O,XS9*(x))exists and is
a negativemultipleof XA*(f(x));
h(x) = 0 otherwise,
where zx: Rm-+n1Rm+n denotes translation by x.
We thenhave foreach h,
(f#S)h =A n {y: Ef(x)=y h(x) = h}.
Note that,if T = E=, giSi is a simplicialk chaininRm+n
withcoefficients
in G, then T can be regarded in a natural way as an element of Vk(G), namely
T = 1:geG9{-} gAgs
whereAg = Ug=g Si foreach g. Furthermore,for each S e Vk(G) and each
in G and a diffeo-
s > 0, thereexists a simplicialk chain T with coefficients
morphismf: Rm+n Rm+n with 1
Lip(f) < + a and Lip(f'-) < 1 + a such
that
M(S -f#(T)) < s
An element of Vk(G) is called a G varifold of dimension k in Rm+",or, for
short, a G varifold.
(e) Zk(G) = Zk(Rm+ff
Rm+n;G) is the subgroupof Vk(G) consistingof all
G varifolds which have a well definedboundary. In particular, we say

Z e Zk(G) if and only if Z e Vk(G) and thereexists Y e Vkl(G) such that for
eachs > 0 thereis somesimplicialk chain T in Rm+nwith coefficients in G
and a class 1 diffeomorphism f: Rm-+n Rm+n such that
M(Z-f#T)<e and M(Y-foaT)<s.
If Z e Z,(G), then Y as above is uniquelydetermined, and we writeaZ = Y.
Note that a o a = 0. Zk(A, B; G) is the subgroupof Zk(G) consistingof those
Z e Zk(G) forwhichspt (Z) c A and spt (&Z) c B. The mapping
a:Zk(A, B; G) - Zkl(B, 0; G)
f For Z
is a group homomorphismand fo? a = a fo. E Vk(G), we set
L(Z) = inf{M(X) + M(Y): Xe Zk(G), Y E Zk+l(G), and Z = X + aiY}
a and f#are continuous in the L metric topology on Zk(G) and M is lower
semi-continuous.Unless specifiedotherwise, Zk(G) always carries the L
metrictopology.
Among the most importantfacts about Zk(G) are the following.Let
B c A be compact subsets of Rm+n
and M < o. Then
Zk(A, B; G) n {z: M(Z) < M and M(iZ) < M}
is compactin the L metrictopology[FF][FL].
Let F: Rm-+n'R be lipschitzian, and set Ar = {x: F(x) ? r}, MAr=
{x: F(x) = r} for r e R. If Z =gEG 940} gZg G Zk(G), then for H1 almost all
reR
z n Ar = EG-{O} g(zg n Ar)G Zk(Ari MAr;
G)
with
a(z n Ar) = (aZ) n Ar + igG{o0} g(Zg n MAr),
where for Hk-l almost all x C Zg n MAr,(Zg n DAr)*(X) G Fk* is defined by
requiring
IgradF(x) I` gradF(x) A x((Zg n MAr)*(X)) = XZ(9*x().
Also, if (d/dr)M(Z n Ar) exists and equals M for r = ro, then D(Z n ArO)exists
and
m((z nAro) - (az) n Ar0)_ MLip(F).
In particular,
rb
5aM(a(Z
a
nAr)- (&Z) n Ar)dr ? Lip(F) HIZH(Ab-
I Aa)
If B ci A are Lipschitzneighborhood retractsin Rm+",thenthe homology

groups of the chain complex Ek=+OAZk(A, B; G) coincide with singular homology

groupsof (A, B) [FF][FL]. Also for each i =0, 1,2,3, *-- the ith homotopy
group2Ci(Zk(A,B; G); 0) of the k dimensionalG chains in (A, B) with the L
metrictopologyis naturallyisomorphicwiththe (i + k)thsingular homology
groupHi+k(A,B; G) of (A, B) withcofficients in G [Al].
An elementof Zk(G) is called a G chain of dimensionk in Rm+",or, for
short,a G chain. A Z chain is called an integral currentin [FF]. A G chain
in G in [FL].
withG finiteis called a flat k-chainwith coefficients
(f) Zk(A/B;G) denotes the subgroup of Vk(A; G) consistingof all G
varifolds
S = g6eG-{O) gS9
suchthat forsome
T= EgeG~{o0 gTge Zk(A, B; G),
S = Tn (A - B), i.e. Sg = Tg - B for each g. The mapping n(A - B):
Zk(A, B; G) Zk(A/B;G) is not necessarilyone to one.
-
2.7. Densities. For x e Rm-+and We W we definethe upper k density

?k( W, x) and the lower k density ?k( W, x) of W at x to be the corresponding
limsup and liminfof

r-ka(k)-1M( W n {p: Ip-x-< r})
as r >0+. If the upperand lowerdensitiesare equal, we call their common
value the k density()k( W, x) of W at x.
If S c Rm-+ is k rectifiable,then (k(1 S x,X) exists and equals 1 for H,
almost all x e S, and exists and equals 0 for Hk almost all x V S.
If S = EgeG-o} Sg e VA(G) for some G e G, then ?k(lI S 11,x) exists and
equals Ig forHk almostall x e S0, and exists and equals 0 forHk almost all
X U g Sg. Furthermore (Hk(II S iI *) is Hk summable and
11S 11 (Hkn Ug Sg) A k (11S 11, _) .
If We W+ and 0 < a ? (k(W X) < b < for all x e A c Rm+", then

aHlkfnA? wnA<A2kbHknA,
and Wn A = (Hk nA) A d(Wn A)/d(Hk n A). If A is k rectifiable,then

WnA = (HknA) A (?k(W, *) .
2.8. Products with intervals. Let - ao < a < b < oo and G e G.
(a) [a, b] x: Z,(Rm+",Rn+,n; G) Zk+,(Rx Rm+nS
- R x Rm "; G) is defined
bysettingforS = Eg gSge Z,(Rm-+,Rm+n; G),
[a, b] x Eg gSg = g g([a, b] x Sg)
where the [a, b] x Sg are oriented so that

&([a, b] x S) + ([a, b] x aS) = ({b}, 1)S - ({a}, 1)S

where ({t}, 1) sends x E Rm+nto (t, x) in R x R+n. The map [a, b] x is
continuousin both the M and L metrictopologieson Zk(G). With the above
orientationconventions,[a, b] x extendsits domainnaturallyto Vk(G).
(b) [a, b] x: V,(Rm-+) Vk+l(R x Rm-+)is defined by setting for V e
Vk(Rm+n),
[a, b] x V = (1, 1, Rx)O(H1 n [a, b] x V)

cR x
where(1, 1, R x ) sends (t, x, r) E R x Rm+nx Fk(Rm4+a)to (t, x, R x w7)
Rm X ?k+l(R x Rm+)- If Ei i JSi JG Vk(Z+), then [a, b] x , i JSi J=
+
Ei I[a, b] x Si I .
2.9. Deformations onto skeletons of standard cubical cell complexes

withprescribedmesh. Fromgeneralpositionconsiderations, one wouldexpect
to be able to deformk dimensionalsurfacesin Rm+nuntiltheybecomepart of
the k skeletonofappropriatetriangulations ofRm+nThe deformation theorem
of [FF 5.5] showsthis is possible for a k dimensionalG chain even though
theremaybe essentialsingularitiesof the deformation in the supportof the
G chain. For the purposesof this paper, we use smoothapproximationsto
the deformations above to obtainseveral additionalconclusionsin the case of
varifoldssatisfyingadditionalhypotheses.
For s > 0 and p e [0, 2E]m+nc Rm+n,we denote by C = C(p, s)[resp.D
D(p, e)] the rectilinearcubical complexof Rm+nwhose verticesare the points
{p + 2ez: z e Zm+n}[resp.{p + 2ez + s(1, *..., 1): z e Zm+n}]. D is the complex
dual to C. For each k = 0 1, .**, m + n, Ek Ek(p, ) denotes the sub-
complexof E consistingof all cubes of dimensionk or less forE = C, D. We
identifycomplexesand subcomplexeswiththeirassociatedsets.
Let C' be a subcomplexof C consistingof certainm + n cubes and their
variousfaces, and let C" be the subcomplexof C consistingof the remaining
m + n cubes togetherwith theirfaces.
We definefork = 0, 1, . ., m + n - 1, the functions,
Pk: Ck+l - Dm+n-(k+l) Ck
pk(X) = X if x e Ck
p~k(x) = c(x) + e[max I Xi- c(x)i I]-I(x-c(x))
for X'~ Ck U Dm+n-(k+l). Here {c(x)} is the intersection of Dm+n.-(k+l) with the
unique k + 1 cell of Ck containingx. The map p' rectractseach k + 1 cube
minusits centerontoits boundary.
We set also

pk(C'): (Ck+l - Dm+n-(k+l)) U C" - Ck U C

pO(C')(x) = po(x) if x X C" U Dm+n_(k+l)
p (C')(x) = x if x c C".
Let s: [0, 1] [0, 1] be a monotonically increasing function of class
such that s(t) 1 - s(1 - t) for t c [0, 1], s'(1/2)= 1, s(O) = (dis/dti)(O)
=
(dj+ls/dtj+')(1/2) 0 for j = 1, 2, 3, Note that Lip(s) can be assumed to
be arbitrarily close to 1. We define
s = s(C(p, s)): Rm+nRm+- n
by setting for each z e Zm-+n,

y e [0, l]+p, and corresponding
x = p + 2e(z + y) e Rm+n,
s(x) = P + 2e(Z + (S(Y1), S(Y2)* * S(Ym+n))) Y
noting that s is of class o, and Lip(s) can be assumed to be arbitrarily close

to 1. We definealso
s(Cf) = s(Cf(p'S )): Rm+n Rm+n
by setting for each x e Rm+I and each i = 1, ** , m + n, [s(C')(x)]i = xi +

infj-i dj(x)(s(x) - x)i where
dj(x) = inf {e- xj - Yj1: I k- Zk ?>e
for some k= 1, , m + n and some z eC'} .
Note that s(C') is of class 00, is the identity on C" {x: Xk - Zk K s for
each i =1, * , m + n and some z e C'}, and Lip s(C') can be assumed to be
arbitrarily close to 1.
To smooth the Pk and pO(C'), we define for each k = 0, 1, * * *, m + n - 1,
Pk = So Pk
Pk(Cf) = S(C') ? pk(C')
We define for k =0 1, *.., m + n - 1 the class 00 homotopies,
ik: [0, m + n - k] ,
x [Cm+n Dm+n_(k+l)] ) Cm+n - Dm+n_(k+l)
[lk(C'): [0, m + n - k] x ([Cm+n Dm+n_(k+l)] U C")
> ([Cm+n - Dm+n_(k+l)] U C")]

by requiring that
lk(0, X) =X [k(C )(0, X) = X]
1k(q, x) = Pm+n-q ? Pm+n-q+l?**Pm+n.(.)

[lk(q, x) = Pm+n-q(C')?Pm+n,-q+l(C')? ...* Pm+n
-(C')(X)]
for each q = 1, 2, ..-, m + n -k and each x; and further requiring that,

wheneverq < t <q + 1 forq =0,1, *,m + n-k-1,

lk(t, x) lI(q + s(t - q), x)

[lk(C')(t, X) = 10(C')(q + s(t - q), x)],
where lo [l(C')] is the linear homotopy between lk(q, *) and lk(q + 1, *) [be-
tween 10(C')(q, *) and l(C')(q + 1, *)].
Note in particular that lk deformsRm+n- Dm+n_(k+l) onto Ck by an
infinitely deformationwhich arbitrarilyclosely approximates
differentiable
the deformationsof [FF 5.1]. These smoothmappingsare usefulbecause Vk
does not map continuouslyunderlipschitzianmaps.
We now considervariousapplicationsof the mappingsPk and the defor-
mations lk'
(a) Applications to Zk(G). (al) Deformations of k dimensional G chains
onto Ck [FF 5.5]. From the estimates of [FF 5.5], we can compute a constant
c < oo such that, for each S G Zk(G) and each s > 0, we can choose
p e [0, 2e]m-n with
A limr-O+ lk(m + n - k, -)#(S
n Dm+n_(k+l))G Zk(Ck, Ck; G)
B = limrO?+ lk l[m + n - k, m + n - (k - 1)] x (aS n Dr+n-k)G Zk(Ck, Ck; G)
C = limr0?+ lk-l(m + n - (k - 1), .),(aSn Dm?+nk)G Zk-l(Ck1, 0; G)
D limr-o?k 140, m
= M+ n - k] x (aS n D m+(k+l)) G Zk(G)
E limro+
= lkj0, m + n - k] x (S n Dmn-(k+l)) C Zk+l(G),
where D = {x: dist (x, Dq > r} for q = m + n-k, m + n-(k + 1); and
setting
furthermore,
P = A + B C Zk(Ck, Ck-1; G) ,
we have aP = C and S = P - D - aE with
M(P) < cM(S) + cM(&S)

M(DP) < cM(DS)
M(D) < scM(DS)
M(E) < scM(S) .
(a2) An isoperimetric inequality for G cycles [FF 6.2]. Let S e Zk(G)
with aS = 0, then there is T e Zk+l(G) with a T = S and M(T) < [CM(S)](k+l)lk.
Assumingwithoutloss of generalitythat M(S) = 1, we set 2s - cl/k and
choosesuitablep C R-+". WritingS = P - D - aE as above, we note that
D = 0 since aS = 0 and P = 0 since M(P) < c = (26)k, and take T = -E.
(b) Applications toVk(Z+) and Vk. (bl) Deformations of k dimensional
sets into Ck. Let S c Rmn+be compactwith Hk(S) < o and let s > 0. Then
p e [0, 28]m+n,5 n Dm+n_(k+l)(P,65)= 0 . If U c
for Hm~n,almost all Rmps is
purelyk unrectifiablewith Hk(U) < co, and if dist (U, Dm+n(k+l)(P1 I)) > 0,

thenthereexist maps1k of class 00 arbitrarilyclose in the class 1 topologyto

such that 1*(m + n - k, *) maps C(p, s) - Dm+.-(k+l)(P, e) onto Ck(p, e) and
tk,
Hk(l*(m + n - k, *)U) = 0. Also, if in (al) S, AS are replaced by integral

varifoldsV, W of corresponding dimensions,the corresponding mass estimate
remainvalid forthe variousimagesunder1k, 1k-1, etc.
(b2) Isoperimetric comparisons in deformation form. Let f: Rm+n
R be of class 00 with Lipf < 1, and set A, {x: f(x) < r}, A, = {x: f(x) = r},
Sr = s n Ar aSr= aArWherever S ci Rn+n Suppose S is a compact k recti-
fiablesubsetofR-+-, and suppose(d/dr)Hk(Sr) exists and equals b < 0 forr =
r1. Let 31> 0, and choose d > 0 sufficiently small so that 9bcd < a&Hk(Srl)
and Hk(Srl+4d - Sr74d) < 9bd. Set 6,= [5(m + n)]-l2d and choose p1e [0, 2,El]m+n
in accordancewith (bi) so that Dm+n-(k+l) nS =0, and
Hk[l(m + n - k, *)(Sr1+4d Sr7_4d)] < 9bcd .
Now let C' be the smallestsubcomplexof C(p1,El)whichcontainseverycube
touching Srl+2d ' Sr7-2d. We choose
L: [0, m + n - k] x Rm"+ > Rm+n
of class 00 so that L = lk(C') except forsomeneighborhoodof Dm+,-(k+,) not
meetingS, and (di/dtj)L(t, x) = 0 fort = 0, m + n - k and each j = 1,2,3, *
Recall that
L(m + n - k, *)(Srl+4d Sr7-4d) < 9bcd .
Now it may happenthat
S1 = L(m + n - k, .)(S) .
thoughit lies on Ck insideArl+d- Arl.d, does not covereach k cube therewith
whichit makesinteriorcontact. We thus choose
L: [m + n - k, m + n - k + 1] x Rm+n - Rm+n
as a class 00 extensionof L above, such that Ckl, remainsfixedwhile S' is
deformedontoCk-l withineach k cube in Ck touchingAr1+d- Ar71dwhichS'
does not completelycover. We set
S2 = L(m + n - k + 1, .)S
and note that, insideAr1+d- Ar71d,S2 consistsof k cubes lying on Ck(P1, er).
Also Hk(Sr'+d -9bcd. We can thus choose r1 - d
Sr-d) < < r2 < rl + d such
that Hk l(DS2) < 5bcand limrr2L(lDSI 1 -| 0S.2) 0.
For each 0 < 82 < r2 - ri + d, we define
K(32) [0 1] x Rmn+n > R x Rm+n
K(Q2)(t,x) = (s(t)s(31[r2- f(x)])(m + n - k + 3), x)

wherewe take s(r) = 0 forr < 0 and s(r) = 1 forr > 1. Since limr,2 1
= Ia r2 I1
lima2+0 K(a2)(1, * S2 = S2 Sr2
( 1 ) ? im~n-k+l# | Sr2 I
+ [0, m + n -k + 1] x |aS
in the L metrictopology,where
it Rm'n -> R x Rm+n,it(X) =(t, x) -
Now let (22)k1- = cHk l(&S2) < 5bc and choose P2 ? [0, 2$2]m+" in accordance
with (bl) so that D+n-k(P2, E2)n aS 2 0 and
M(lk2,(M + n - k + 1, *) | |) < cHk-l(rS2)
M(lk-1[0, m + n - k + 1] x I aS2 |) < 2cHkl(aSr2)
We extendL by choosing
L: [m + n - k + 1, 2(m + n - k + 1)] x Rm+n - Rmn
to be of class ao such that
L(t, x) = Ik1(t-(m-+ n - k + 1), L(m + n - k + 1, x))

for L(m + n -k + 1, x) in a neighborhoodof aS2 and (di/dtj)L(t, x) 0
O
for t = m + n-k + 1, 2(m + n-k + 1) and each j = 1, 2, 3, .* .. Continue
this extensionby choosing
L: [2(m + n - k + 1), 2(m + n - k + 1) + 1] x Rm+"-kRm
of class to deform lk-l(m + n - k + 1, *)(&Sr2) within Ckl(p2, S2) into
oo
Ck-2(P2, x) = 0 for t = 2(m + n - k + 1), 2(m + n - k + 1) + 1

62) with (dq/dtq)L(t,
and q 1, 2, 3, * This is possible because k l(Sr22) has less (k - 1) area

..
than that of a single(k - 1) cube.

Finallychoose
L: [2(m A-n - k + 1) + 1, 2(m + n -k + 1) + 2] x Rm+n
- >Rmn
of {y: L(m + n -
of class oo such that forx in a neighborhood A 1,y) C2
L(t, x) = (1 - s[t - 2(m + n - k + 1) -i])L(2(m + n - k + 1) +1, x)

for0 ? t - 2(m + n - k + 1) - 1 < 1, and (dj/dtj)L(t, x) = 0 for each j =
i, 2, 3,. . and t-2(m + n-k + 1)-1 = 0,1.
CombiningK(Q2)and L we have the deformation
D(J2): [0, 2] x Rm-n-f Rm'+
D(2)(t, x) =L((m + n-k A+ )t, x) for 0 < t < 1
D(2)(t, x)= Lo ToK()(t-i, x) for1 < t? 2,

where T: R x Rm+n R x R'+', T(t, x) = (t + m + n - k + 1, x).

In view of (b2)(1) and the continuityof the class o map D(32)(2, *)#
on
Vk with the L metrictopology,we have
lim,2 40 D(02)(2 , *) S
- S - Sr1+4d I + Sr+4d Sr2 I + lkJ0,m + n - k + 1] x r2 | 9
since the remainingimages of S2 lie on a set of dimensionno larger than

k - 1.
small
We concludefinallythat, forsufficiently a2 > 0,
Hk(D(62)(2, *)Srl+4d) < Hk(Sri+4d

'
S22) + E2cHkrl(DS2)
K 9bcd + 5e2bc2
K 3IHk(Sr1) + 215k1(k 1)C(2k-1)1(k-1)bkl (k-1)
-
aHk(Sr,) + c,[(d/dr)Hk(Sr) r=rk(k)
wherec1= 2-15k/ (k-1)C(2k-1)/(k-1)

Assumingthat, forsomeC2 < (>0 and each a2 and d chosen as above, we
knowthat
c2Hk(D (32)(2, *)SrT+4d) > Hk(Sr7+4d)
thenwe can conclude

Hk(Sr7) < clc2[(dldr)Hk(Sr)Ir=r, ]kI(k1)
since a2 and d can be chosenarbitrarilysmall.
(b3) Density comparisons in deformation form. Let f: Rm+nR-
f(x) I x I for x eR-+n and let Ar,aAr, Sr, aSr be as in (b2). Suppose
Sc R-m+n is k rectifiable,and (d/dr)Hk(Sr)exists for r = 1 and equals b.
Suppose also that 0 < E < 1. In a manneranalogous to (b2), one can con-
structa deformation
LE: [0, 1] x Rm+n > Rm+n
of class o parallelingthe constructionsin the proofof [FL 7.8] such that
L,(O *) is the identity,L, does not moveRm+n- A1,and
Hk[JL(1 *-)(Si)] < C3 + c8(d/dr)Hk(Sr)Lr=l 9
where C3 = c3() = Hk(CA) and C'kis the subcomplex of C(0, e) consisting of all
(m + n) cubes havingdistanceno morethan (1 + 2(m + n)1128) from0.
(b4) Unrectifiability comparisons in deformation form. Let f: Rm-+,-
R, f (x) = Ix I forx c R-+a, and let Ar,aAr,Sr, aSr be as (b2). SupposeBQRM+n
is compactwith Hk(B) < oo. Then we can write Hk almost uniquely,B =
S U U whereS is k rectifiable,
and U is purelyk unrectifiable.Suppose also
that ?k(HknrS, O) O 0 and (3k(Hkn U,O) = b > 0. Let 3 > 0 and choose

O<r1 < r2< o so that

c[Hk(Sr) + Hk(Br2 Br )] < aSHk(Brl)
Now let s > 0 satisfy 3(2s)(m + n)1/2 - r2 - r, and choose p e [0, 2V]-+n in
accordancewith [bl] so that B n Dmnn-(k+l)(P, E) = 0 , and
Hk(lk(m + n - k, *)(S7lU(B72- Br7)))< cHk(S7lU(Br2 Br7))
Also let C' consist of all m + n cubes in C(p, s) which touch Ar +(2,))(m+n)1/2
togetherwithall theirfaces, and choose
L: [0, m + n - k] x Rm+n Rm+n
of class (>0 such that
(i ) L(t, x) = k(C')(t, x) forO < t < m + n -k and x X C',
(ii) L 1[0,m + n - k] x C' is a close approximationto lk which still
deformssomeneighborhood of Br1intoCk,
(iii) Hk(L(m + n - k, .)(Ur7)) = 0, and
(iv) (di/dtj)L(t, x) = 0 for each x and each j = 1, 2, 3, ... when t = 0,
m+ n - q.
Now let
L: [0, m + n - k + 1] x Rm+n > Rm+n
be a class extensionof L above whichdeformsL(m + n - k, *)(Ur7) into
CkJ(P, e) withinCk(p, E), and does not increasethe k area of L(m + n - k, *)
(Sr1U (Br2 Br71)).We note that L does not moveRm+n - Ar2and that
Hk(L(m + n - k + 1, .)(Br2)) < cHk(STrU(Br2 Br7)) < aHk(Br7)
3. Existence and compactness theorems

3.1. Definition. An integrandF: Rmn+x 1Pn Rn i{t:t > O} is called -
bounded if and only if inf im F/sup im F > 0, and is called elliptic with respect
to G e G, or elliptic withoutreferenceto a coefficient groupif the conditions
of 1.2 or 1.6(2) are realized respectively. The integral of a continuous
integrandF over a rectifiableset S in Rm+nis
F(S) = F(p, S(p))dHmP

as in 1.1(7). If V Vk,
/ we definealso
F(V) = FdV = V(F)
as notedin 1.10. If f: Rmn+f- Rml+is continuouslydifferentiable, we define

f#F: Rm+nx R by requiringfor each V G V(fOF) = (foV)(F). If f
-
]mn Vk,
is a diffeomorphism,we set f$F = (f `)OF. If f is a diffeomorphism, thenf$F

is an elliptic integrand if and only if F is (4.3). However, the boundedness of

F does not imply the boundedness of foF.
3.2. Some usefulfacts about surfaces minimizing the integral of an
integrand. The following estimates with appropriate modificationsapply to
various formulations of calculus of variations problems in the homology
setting (1.10).
(a) Isoperimetricinequalities and a lower bound for mass within a
ball [FF, FL, A2]. ( i ) If B c Rm+nis compact and m - 1 rectifiable and
a C Hm(Rm+A, B; G) for some G C G, then there exists a compact m rectifiable
set S c Rm+nwhich spans a and for which
(*) Hm(S) < [cHmi-(B)]m/(m-l)
where c is as in 2.9(a2) with k = m. Compare 2.9(a2)(b2).
(ii) Let B c Rm+nbe compact and m - 1 rectifiable and S c Rm+nbe
compactand m rectifiablesuch that C2Hm(T)> Hm(S) whenever T is the
image of S under a class deformationof Rm+n leaving B fixedfor some fixed
C2 < o. Then for each p C S - B and H, almost all r with 0 < r < dist(p, B),
(*) Hm(Sr) < ClC2[(dldt)Hm(St) i
It=r]m/(m-l)
where c1 is as in 2.9(b2) and Sr =S n {q: Iq - pI r}. Integration of (*)
yields
(**) r-mHm(Sr)> C4 > 0
for 0 < r < dist (p, B) where C4 m-m(clC2)l-r. In particular,

(m( I S, P) > C4/a(m)
whenever p C spt S - B. Variants of (**) taking into account boundary area
imply 3.2(ai)(*) [A2 8.7].
(b) An upper boundfor mass within a ball. Let B c Rm+nbe compact,
and m - 1 rectifiable and S c Rm+nbe compact and m rectifiablesuch that
C2Hm(T)> Hm(S) wheneverT is the image of S undera class cx deformation
of Rm+n leaving B fixed. Then for each p C S - B,
( *) r-mHm(Sr)< c5(dist(p, B)) <
for a fixed decreasing function
c5:Rfn {t: t > O}- Rn {t:t > c4} .
The proof of (*) is a straightforwardadaptation of [FL 7.8, 8.2] based on the

deformationof 2.9(b3). In particular,
(()-m(II S 1, P) ? c6/a(m) '
where c6 = limt g c5(t) > c4. The statement for G chains and M analogous to

(*) for rectifiablesets and Hm is known to hold only in case G is finite.

(c) An analytic criterion for rectifiability. Let B c R-+n be compact
and m - 1 rectifiableand V C Vm such that
< c4 < a(m)?m(l
m VI, p) _ 6 < O
whenever p c spt V - B, and c2M(W) > M(V) whenever We Vm is the

f(1, .)O image of V under a class cx deformation f: [0, 1] x Rsn+n -Rn+n
of Rn+nleaving B fixed. Then spt V c Rn+n is m rectifiableand, of course,
compact. Indeed, the density hypothesis shows that Hmn n spt V lies within
a factor of VI viin (Rn+n B),
- and the comparison surfaces derived from
2.9(b4) show that spt V B contains no purely m unrectifiable subset of
positive measure.
(d) Ellipticity and the compactness of F minimal surfaces. Let
F: Rsn+n x . - R be a bounded elliptic integrand of class 0 and c3 =
inf im F/sup im F > 0. Let B c Rn+nbe compact and m - 1 rectifiable,and
let Si, S2, S, *c
... Rm+nbe compact and m rectifiablesuch that for each i =
1, 2, 3, *. F(T) > F(S) whenever T is the image of Si under a class oo
deformationof Rm+n leaving B fixed,and also supi Hm(Si) < c. The inequal-
ity 3.2(ii)(**) implies Ut Si is bounded. Passing to a subsequence if necessary,
we can thereforeassume limi I St I = V C Vm by the compactness properties of
bounded subsets of VYn. We assert that
spt V is m rectifiable,
vnRm+n , B Ispt VI,
F(V) = Fd V limi F(Si),
and F(T) > F(spt V) whenever T is the image of sptV under a class
deformationof Rm+nleaving B fixed. Indeed 3.2(a)(b)(c), and the continuity
of M on V+ imply that spt V - B is mn rectifiable and IIVI {p: p c spt V - B
and (spt V)(p) C Fm does not exist} = 0. Let p c spt V - B such that
(spt V)(p) exists, i.e., spt V admits a tangent m plane at p. Without loss of
generality, we assume p = 0 and (spt V)(0) = R- x {0}. Choose a sequence
ri > r2 > r3 > . . . > limi ri = O such that
< 3r4 =1 limieo(V fn{q: I q I < 3rd),
limieil Si n {q: I q K
where e,(q) = r lq for q Rmn We will show that
limi ei,(V n{q: Iq K
< r}) = I Dm x {0} I
whereDm= Rmn {p: Ip I < 1}, whichwill implythat I spt V I = V n Rms+n
. B.
The inequality 3.2(a)(ii)(**) implies
( *) < 2rj) c Rmx Rnn{y: IyI? h}}
0 = limi inf{h: ei(Si n{q: I q K

since (spt V)(O) = Rmx {O},whichimplies

0 = limi inf{h: ei(spt V nl{q: q I < 2r4}) c Rowx R-n {y: Iy I< h}}
since2.2(a)(ii)(**) impliesapproximatetangentm planes are tangentm planes
(compare [FF 9.14]). We can thus choose a sequence flf2,f3, * Rm-+- Rm'+
of class co mappingswhose Lipschitz constantsconvergeto 1, and which
preserveRmcoordinatesin Rmx R' = Rm+"such that
0 = limi sup {dist(p, {(x, 0): x e Rm,I x I= 1}): fi(p) # p}
and
fioe(Si n {q: Iq I < 2r}) nl{(xy ): xeRm, x = 1}
={(x,O):xeRm, x =1}.
The F minimality of the Si, the boundednessof F, 3.2(a)(b), and theconditions
on the fi implythat forlarge i,
fioe(Si n {q: Iq I < 2r}) n {(xy ): x eRmx 1}
cannotbe deformedinto{(x, 0): x C RI", Ix I = 1} leaving{(x, 0): x e Rm, x = 1}
fixed. The ellipticity
and continuity of Fat 0, 3.2(a)(b), and the F minimality
of the Si implythat
limi Hm(ei(Si f {q: I I <K 2ri}) n {(x, y): x c Rm,Ix I < 1}) = a(m)
which,in view of the deformation
propertyabove and (*), implies
lim ei(vn {q: Iq < ri})-I Dm x {O}0I
whichwe wishedto show.
The last twoassertionsfollowfromthedefinition of the L metrictopology
on V and the continuityof g#on Vm for each continuouslydifferentiable
g: Rm+n Rm+n.
3.3. Compactness of spaces of F minimal surfaces. Let B c Rm+nbe a

compactsmoothneighborhood rectractwithHmi(B) < oa, and let F: Rm+nx
Fm - R i{t: >t 0} be elliptic. Let K c Rm-+be compact, U = {U, U2, U3, * }
be an open coveringof R-+n,and M < c*. Then thespace of all varifolds
Ve Vm(K, Z+) such that V = I spt VI, spt V is F minimal with respect to
B and U, and M(V) = lm(spt V) ? M is compact in the weak topology,and
F is a continuous function on this space.
If U {Rm-+-} and F is bounded,the above compactnesspropertyremains
true if K is replaced by Rm-+since 3.2(a)(ii)(**) and the boundM implya
boundon spt V.
For general coveringsand boundedF, examplesshow the need of both
the hypothesisboundingmasses by M and the hypothesisrestrictingsupports

to K, in order to insure the compactness.

Easily constructed deformations along B show that V (B) = 0 when-
ever V is F minimal with respect to B and U. The above compactness then
follows from 3.2(d) applied locally, and implies the compactness asserted in
1.7(2).
3.4. Existence of F minimal surfaces. Let B c Rm+nbe compact and
m - 1 rectifiable,G C G, F: Rm+n X pm -* R be an integrand which is bounded
and elliptic with respect to G, and aJ Hm(Rm+n, B; G). Then there exists
S Rm+n
c which is compact and m rectifiable, and spans a such that
F(S) < F(T) whenever T c Rm+nis compact and m rectifiable and spans a.
The inequality 3.2(a)(i)(*) implies, of course,
(inf im F)Hm(S) < (sup im F)[cHm_(B)]m/(m-l)
The proof of the existence of S utilizes compactness properties of both
Zm(G) and Vm(Z+). S is produced as follows:
( 1 ) We firstneed to approximate Da by cubical cycles. For small s > 0,
we choose p C [0, 2s]m+nsuch that (in the terminologyof 2.9),
B n D.(p, s) = 0 ,
Hmi(lmi(n + 1, B)) < cHmil(B) ,
and
Hm(lmi1[0, n + 1] x B) < csHm-l(B)
Let B, c Bi lmi(n + 1, B) be the union of all those m - 1 cubes of
Cmi1(p, s) completelycontained within lmi-(n + 1, B). Since B, is a deformation
retract of lmil(n + 1, B), au is homologous to some Da, C Hmi-(Bi; G) within
1mi1([0,n + 1] x B), and furthermoreDa, can be represented by a cubical G
cycle T, C Zmi,(Bi, 0; G). For some boundaries B and a C Hm(Rm+n, B; G) when
G is infinite, it will happen that lime- M(T) c=. Note that if S C Zm(G)
with AS = T, then ida = 0 where
B; G)
i*: Hm(Rm+n, ) Hm,(Rm+n,
B U lmi-([O, n + 1] x B) U spt S; G)
is induced by the inclusion.
(2) We will now construct suitable minimizing sequences. One is
temptedto chooseS, 52, S3, * * C Zm(G) withaSi = T, foreach i such that
limi ;E, F(Si) = inf{Eg F(Sg): S = E, gSg C Zm(G) with AS = To}.
Here Si = Eg gSi as in 2.6(d) where the Si are disjoint for each i as are the
Sg above. Having chosen the Si, one would then hope to extract a convergent
subsequence, the support of whose limit would be the desired set. To extract
a convergent subsequence one needs to know, in particular, an upper bound

for M(St). If G is infinite,there need not be a finite upper bound for M(St)
even fora subsequence. I do not know whether or not it is possible to obtain
a finiteupper bound by using more care in selecting the St, and am thus led
to the following construction to be able to take limits.
For each k = 1, 2, 3, ... choose Sk1, Sk,2, 5k3 ... C Zm(G) with aSk$ = T1
for each i, such that each S ki can be expressed
Skzi ={gSki: gc G <
{O} and IgI k?
and for each k,
limi E{F(Sk i): g C G -{0} and I g I < k}

inf {J{F(Sg): g e G -{0} and I g I <k?
S = {gS,: g C G -{0} and I g I ? k} with AS = T} .
Here for each k and i, the Sk i are disjoint m rectifiable sets as are the Sg.
The existence of the Ski above with aSki = T, is a consequence of the fact
that the codimension n is positive, and one can if necessary peel apart a
polyhedral chain to decrease multiplicities to be no more than k. Passing to
a subsequence if necessary, we can assume that for each i,
57g F(Sg ki) < Eg F(S k 1

and thus M(Sksi) <kM(Sk~l). Assuming for the moment that Ui spt Ski is
bounded and passing to a subsequence if necessary, we conclude the existence
of Sk - limi Ski C Zm(G) and Vk - limi Eg I Sgki I C Vm fromthe compactness
properties of bounded subsets of Zm(G) and VYn.
One notes that the estimates of [FF 5.1-5.5] imply that, for each
S C Zm(G),each s > 0, and Hlmn almost all p C jO,2s]m+n, the G chains A, B, C,
D of 2.9(al) exist. Now for each p C spt Vk, the r derivatives of the function
1HVk Il{q: I q - p < r} provide estimates on the H,1 measure of slices by the
function dist(., p) of the m rectifiablesets Ug Sgk provided i is large. One
then applies the constructionof 2.9(b2) to these m rectifiable sets, utilizing
the remark above about deformingG chains, in order to conclude in the limit
that for each p C spt Vk - B, and H, almost all r, with 0 < r, < dist(p, B,),
| Vk l{q: I q - p I < rl} < clc2[(d/dr)ll Vk I{q: q - p I< r}Ir=?r1]m/(m)l)
As in 3.2(a)(ii), integration of this inequality yields

(*) r-m11Vk{q: Iq-pI <Kr} ? C4 > 0
and, in particular,
?lm( I Vk | , p) > c4/1a(m)
One now modifiesthe Sk'i by use of deformations 1m(C') as in 2.9 where C"

contains a suitable neighborhoodof spt Vk so that the limits Sk and Vk are

preserved, and in addition
limi dist(spt S1 ,i spt VI) = 0,
where denotes the deformationimage of Ski.
Sok'
In this argument one, in
particular, makes use of the minimizingproperties of the Sk,i isoperimetric
considerations implicit in the L convergence of the Sk,i and the bound k for
m density Hm almost everywhere for IIS k,i Note that our assumption of
11
the boundedness of Ui spt Ski was unnecessary since

sup {dist(p,B,): p c spt Vk} ? [c-lkM(Sk,1)]1Im
regardless of the boundedness assumed for Ui spt Sk,i.

It followsfromthe definition
of the Sk'i M
that M(Vk) ? (Vk~l) foreach
k. Passing to a subsequence if necessary, we conclude, fromthe compactness
properties of Vi, the existence of V, = limk Vk, where we indicate by the
subscript s on the limit varifold V, the dependence of the Sk'i, Sk, Vk upon
T., and hence upon s in (1). Clearly spt V, spans a,.
We now verify that V, = Ispt V 1. First suppose p c spt V, - B, and
spt V, admits a tangent m plane at p. One sees fromthe nature of the con-
struction of the Vk, the fact that the permitted multiplicityk of the Sk,i (or
of the Sk'i) is increasing as one passes to the limit, and the ellipticity of F
used essentially as in 3.2(d) that ( V, I, p) < 1. On the other hand it is
clear that the Ski must project to cover small m disks lying in the tangent
plane and centered at p in a topologically non-trivialway. This implies that
p > 1, and one concludes that (-(I I V, p
:) f(I I VE, P) P) exists and equals 1.
Of course at this point we do not know that any points in spt V. admit
tangent planes.
Now suppose 0 c spt V,, dist(O,B,) > 1, and (d/dr)I V Ij{q: I q < r} exists
and is finite for r = 1. Let L,0 be the deformationof 2.9(b3), and set W =
LE(1)#V. From the convergence of the supports of the Soki and the Vk, we
see that the LJ(1), images of the Sfkrand the Vk are definedprovided i and k
are both sufficientlylarge. Now, part of the L,0(1)0image of V, lies on the m
skeleton of acubical decomposition of R-+n, and by a slight modificationof
the argument above regarding points admitting tangent planes, we see that,
for the purpose of considering W as a comparison surface for V, we can
assume that the m density of I W I at each interior point of an m cube is at
most 1. By the nature of the construction of the deformationLE0Othat part
of W which was deformedonto the m - 1 skeleton of the cubical decomposi-
tion of Rn+n has II WI measure 0. It follows that
M(Lo(1a(VE n {q: Iq I < 1})) ? c3 + csO(d/dr)II V, II{q: q I < r} Ir=l

analogous to the formula of 2.9(b3). One then adapts the argument of [FL 8.2]
in a fashion similar to 3.2(b) to conclude the existence of a finiteupper bound
for (3w( I V. 11,0) which bound depends only on the dist (0, BE). We see then
that, for each r > 0, IIV.IIn {q: dist(q,BE)> r} is withina constantfactor
of Hm n spt V.fn {q: dist(q, BE) > r}. Using deformationsof the type appear-
ing in 2.9(b4) in a manner similar to that of 3.2(c) one concludes that spt V.
contains no purely m unrectifiablesubset of positive Hm measure. It follows
fromthe structure of sets of finiteHausdorffmeasure (2.3) and (*) above, as in
3.2 (d), that spt V, is m rectifiableand that Hm or, equivalently, II V, IIalmost all
points in spt V, - BE admit tangent m planes. Since the density at each such
point is 1, we are able to conclude by an argument similar to that used in
3.2 (d) that V,n Rm+n, BE= IsptV 1. Easily constructeddeformations enable
one to conclude that II V, II(Be) = 0, and thus V, = Ispt V 1. As noted above,
spt V, spans a,. Clearly spt V, is F minimal with respect to BEEWe choose
61 > 62 > 63 > . . . > lim si = 0 and, passing to a subsequence if necessary,
conclude the existence of V = limi VET C Vm as in 3.3. We set S = spt V. S
is the desired surface spanning a and minimizingF.
4. Some estimates involving area excess

In this chapter, we examine various properties of k dimensional surfaces
S lying over a unit k disk in terms of the parameter E(S) which equals the
k area of S less the k area of the covered disk. This area excess E(S) is the
basic parameter in terms of which the regularity estimates in the following
chapters are formulated.
The essential hypothesis on S in this chapter is that it cover the disk
above in some topologically non-trivial way. With this conditionunderstood,
all the results of this chapter are valid (with only the obvious rewordings)
whether S be a compact rectifiableset or a G chain.
4.1. Definitions. ( 1 ) For k = 1,2,3, ..., pCRk, r > 0 we define
Dk(p, r) = Rk ni{: I x-pI< r}
Dk(p, r) = Rk n{x: Ix-pI <r}
aDk(p, r) = Rk n{x: Ix-P =r}.
We often abbreviate D k= D k(O 1), Do =D= (O. 1), aD = ADk(O,1), D D-+,
Do =Dmn DD = aD-+n.
(2) Let peRm +nwJ 7cm, and r > 0. We define
C(w, p, r) = '-i(p + [w n D(O, r)])
C0(w,p, r) = '-i(p + [a n Do(O,r)])
ac(w,p, r) = '-(p + [7anaD(o, r)]) .

We often abbreviate C = C(R x {0}, 0, 1), CO Co(Rmx {0}, 0, 1), and XC

aC(Rm x {0}, 0, 1).
(3) For p, w, r as above and S m rectifiable,
Rm+n - Co(w,p, r); G), and UrC ZmX(7C(W,p, r), 0; G)
T C Zm(Rm+n,
for some G e G, we set
E(1Z,p, r)(S) = r-m[H.m(Sn c(, p, r)) - Hm(Wsn C(w,p, r))]

E(1Z,p, r)(T) = r-m[M(Tn C(, p, r)) - M(w#(Tn C(, p, r))]
E(1, p, r)(U) = r-n-1)I[M(U) - M(;U)]
We often abbreviate E(Rm x {0}, 0, 1) = E.
(4) For VC Vmand C Pm, we define
V,= VA/\ Vm
whereq(x, 7)= , o ao r-'() I for x C R- , C Fm (see 2.1). For S, T, U as
above, w = Rm x {O}, p = 0 and r = 1, we abbreviate 11X, 11= 11I XI, 11, and
note that
E(X) > 11X-X, II(C) forX = S, T, U.
(5) For p,w, r, T as in (3) and 0 < Ka(m),
< we define
h(w, p, r; &)(T)
r-1 inf {h: M(w#[Tn C(, p, r) n {q: dist(q, z + w) < h}]) > rm(a(m) -)
for some z e u-1(0).
If 60is as in 5.9, we write
p, r; &o)= h(w,p, r) and h(Rmx {0}, 0, 1) =h .
h(7w,
Note that ao depends on the choice of 0 < s < 1/32 in 5.9. The estimates of
Chapter 6 hold for each such fixed s.
0, p), XC(w,0, p); G) for w
4.2. PROPOSITION. Let p > 1 and S C Zm(C(W7,
Rmx {0} and G e G, and let h > 0. Then there exists p-1 < r < p such
that
(1) Sr S=n
C(C , , r)C Zm(G),
(2) M(aSr n {(xy ): I I ?> h}) < 2M(S n {(xy ): Iy I > h})
(3 ) M(DSr) - M(WU#aSr) < 2[M(S) - M(1Z#S)].
PROOF. One notes
| _M(aSr n {(x, y): y

y I > h})dr
< M(Sfn{(x,y):p -1< Ix < pandI y I h})
and

[M(Sr) - M(w#aSr)]dr
P_1
< M(Sp -Sp,) - M(o(Sp - Sp-,))
? M(S)
-M(;roS)
because 5M(7#aSr)dr = M(z#(Sp - Sp1)) and projections do not increase

mass. The proposition follows.
4.3. PROPOSITION. (1) Let SczRm+" bem rectifiable,
and suppose(p+z) n
S+ 0 wheneverpeR-n+nyYqe , and (p+ )nD- x {0}1 0. This con-
dition holds for example if S cannot be deformedonto aDm x {O} by a
deformationleaving aD- x {O} fixed. Let L be a compact subset of the
general linear group GL(m + n, R) of non-singularlinear transformations
L: Rmsn Rk) n . Then there exist constants 0 < b, < b2< co depending only
on L such thatfor each L e L,
bl[Hm(S) - HIm(Dn x {O})] < [Hm(LS) - Hm(L(Dmx {O}))]
< b2[JH(S) - Hm(Dm x {O})]
(2) Let F: R-n+nx rF.- R and f: Rm-n~f R-+n be a class 1 diffeo-
morphism. Then F is an elliptic integrandif and onlyif foF is.
PROOF. Let L e L, and write D = Dm x {O}c R-n. For k = m, n and
Ik, define 1()
WUC 'O}= Cm-1101
G sn-k, and set q
= Lo L o L: :m ):,. Let
8-1 = a(m)-l Hm (rD)dpe.
We compute
Hm(S) - H.(D) =/3f I S

[M(p# ) - M(p I D 1)]dtp
prermn
SS [(-() S I) -M(qr'(w)# D l)]d(q#a)w
-
and
Hm(LS) - Hm(LD) = / ILS )

[M(w7# - M(# I LD 1)]daw
=
- [M(7#o L#? '-1(X),IS -M(7# o L#o ?-'(wf), ID I)]dpe
because wo L a o L`'o I (w)] = wo L.

The non-singularity of L implies that the two non-negative integrands
above are within a positive factor of each other, and that the two measures
are within a positive factor of each other. These estimates depend continu-
ously on L e L. (1) then follows from the compactness of L. (2) follows
from (1).

4.4. PROPOSITION. Let f: Rm-+,, Rm-+ be of class 3 with f(O) = 0 and

Df(O, x) - x for x e Rm+n Then there exist b3> 0 and b4< such that,
if O < r < b3, = Rmx {O}, and S c Zm(C(f,0, 2r) n D(O, 3r), aDm(O,2r) x
{O}; G) with I 7;#S = I Dm(O,
D 2r) x {O} I and E(w, 0, 2r)(S) < b3,then
E(w, 0, r)(f#S) < 2m+'E(w,0, 2r)(S) + b4r.
Furthermore the numbers b3and b4 depend only on the second derivatives
off.
PROOF. For r sufficientlysmall and some b < co (depending on the
second derivatives of f ), we have Lip f ID(O, 3r) _ 1 + br and
Dm(O,2r - br3) x {O} c wf(Dm(O,2r) x {O}) .
Hence
E(w, 0, r)(f#S) = r-m[M(f#Sn C(w, 0, r) - rma(m)]

n C(, 0, 2r - br3)) - (2
< r--[M(gf#s - br2)mrma(m)]
< r-m[M(f#S)- (2 - br2)mrma(m)]
< 2-(1 + br)m(E(wu,
0, 2r)(S) + a(m)) (2 - br2)ma(m) -
2-(1 + mbr)E(w, 0, 2r)(S) + 2mmba(m)r + 0(r2) .

One then takes b3< (mb)-1 sufficientlysmall, and b4 = 2m+lmba(m).
4.5. LEMMA. There exists c7< co with the following property. Let
G e G and S C Zm(Dm,Dm; G) with M(S) < 2a(m)/3. Then
M(S) < c7M(&S nD
and
M(S) < c7M(&S n Do-)m/(m--'
PROOF. The mappings
f+, f-: Dm Sm = Rm+ n
{(x, y): x e Rm,y e R, (x, y)1}
f+(x) = (sin(I x I w/2)x,cos(I x I w/2))

f-(x) = (sin(I x I w/2)x,-cos(I x I w/2))
are bi-lipschitzian diffeomorphismsof Dm onto the upper and lower hemi-
spheres of S-. Furthermore
a(f+s- fi-S) = f#+(aSn Do) - f-(as n Do).

The isoperimetricestimates then follow easily from 3.2(a) or [A2 8.7].
4.6. PROPOSITION. There exists b5> 0 with the following property. Let
G e G, and suppose S C Zm(Dmx R, aDmx R; G) with 17u#S I = I Di x {O} I
and M(;#IS I) - M(7;#S)< a(m)/3, where w = Rmx {O}e IPm(Rm+').Then
thereexist y0e R and Ue=Zm+i(Dmx R, Dm x R; G) such that

(1) aunDo-x R = S-w?uS where

w0(x, y) = (x, y0)for x e Rm',ye R,
(2) M(U) < b5M(S),
and furthermore for each E > 2[M(u#I S )-M(#S)],
n {(x,y): Y - YoI > b5E-(m-1)Im}])< 2E.
( 3 ) M(7r#S
PROOF. One sets
Yo = sup {h: M(;#Sh) < 2a(m)/3},
whereXh = xn {(x, y): y< h} forXeZk(G), k = m- 1, m, m + 1. We set
T = S - rS. Since aT is homologous to 0 on aDm x R, there exists a unique
Q C Zm(&Dmx R, aDm x R; G) with aQ = a T. Similarly, since '(T - Q) = 0,
there exists a unique Ue= Zm+i(Dm x R, Dm x R; G) with a U = T - Q. Note
that a Uh- (a U)h = -_w Th where w'"(x,y) (x, h). For h < yo we know
from 4.5 that
M(w TO) < C7M(aQ Th n Do x R) c7M(aSh - (&S)h)
and
M(7;#Sh) ? C7M(QS, - (aS)h)m/(m 1)
because 0 < M(;#Sh)/a(m) < 2/3 whenever h < y0. From the firstinequality,
we see
M(UYO) = |M(aUh - (&U)h)dh
<? c71 MO3S&- (aS)h)dh

_00
< C7M(SYO) t
and conclude, by the choice of y0,that

M(U) < 2c7M(S)
Suppose now that E > 2[M(;# I S ) - M(7;#S)]. Set
Y1 = SUP {h: M(S n {(x,y): y < h}) < E} .
Then, for y, < h < y0,M(;r#Sh)> E/2, and by the second inequality above,
c7(ml)Im(E/2)(m/l)Im< M(&Sh - (&S)h)
Integrating as above, we have

M(S n {(x,y): y1< y < Y0})> (y0- yj)c7-(m-l)m(E/2)(m-l')m
and conclude
o- y, < (2C7)(m-l)M(S)E-(m-l)Im
One then sets b5= max {C7, (2c7)(m-1)/m}.
4.7. PROPOSITION. Let wu= Rmx {0} e Irm(Rm+'),

SczRm+l be m rectifiable,
e2 = M(I S ) - M(o I S 1), d2 =M(u# IS ) - M(I S 1). Define : Rm?+'
- R+ by

setting
r,(P) = I0O X o '-1 o S(p) -'(1- I ;oXo' -1o S(p) 12)1/2
when S(p) e T'., exists and I ;z o X o r' o S(p) I > 0, and r(p) O otherwise.
0
Define also a, a: Rm1_' Rm+' by setting u0(x,y) = (x, e1y), o(x, y)
-
(x, (e2+ d2)-"/2y) for x e RM,y e R. Then

(1 ) For each O0< 7O < ,
1 (s n {p: 72(p)< 'oJ)1 (e-2r2) < [(1 + p2)1/2 1]-Lr2
II(s n {p: '(p) ? olO II(e-2)) < [(1 + ?72)112 11-1ry
and, in particular,
II(s n {p: )7(p)< 1}) II (e-2y)2)< 3

1(s n p: y)(p)1)=1(- 7< 3
(2) Hm(u(S)) < Hm(uo(S)) < Hz(S) + 6 in case e < 1.
(3) llrn(u(S) n {p: r 0o-(p) ? (e2 + d2)"1227})
? Hm(U(S) A {p: p
? eq1}) < 6e + 67T1'in case e < 1 < 1.
(4 ) For each m rectifiable set A c Rm x {O} with 0 < Hm(A) < 1,
n wr-'(A)) < Hmn(o(S)n wr1(A))
Hrn(a(S)
< 6e + 2d2Hn(A)"2 + 8Hm(A)"2
PROOF. (1) We observe

e2 - M(S) - M(7# SI) ?> 1 S,: _ 1]
[(1 + p2)1/2
= e2 1SSI (e-2[(1 + p2)1/2 1])
whichgives
11S 11 (e-22(-r-2[(l + 62)i/2- 11)) <
1S (e-2ry(r-[(j + p2)1/2 -
1])) < 1
whichimplythe formulasin (1) because

inf{r-2[(1 + p2)1/2 _ 1]: 0 < v7 < 274= -2[(l + 702)1/2- 1]
inf{1r(1 + 72)1/2 _ 1]: 0< < o,}
2>r'[(1 + 7)2)1/2 -]
(2) In view of the continuitypropertiesof H. underrotations,we can
assume withoutloss of generalityin proving(2) that 7rao X o a-roS(p) I > 0
forHUralmostall p c S. We have then
M(a(7S)) + (el27)211/2)
S, ([rJ
<1 S, 1(1 + [(1 + e-222)"2-1])
' Is, kii)+ jj(s n {p: 27(p) < '}) Il(e-2772)
+ }(s n {p: '2(P) > 1}), 11(e-l)
<UHm(S) + 6

because
(1 + e-2r2)1/2 _ 1 < (1 + e-22) -1 =-22
_
(1 + e-2r7)"2 -1 (1 + 2e-1 + e-2r2)1/2 1
(3) We compute
H,,(uo(s) n ip: ou01(p) , ewl)

(S n {p: y(p) ? eo7}), (111+
- (e-l,)2]1/2)
< II(Sn{p:r(p)?e=7})7f| ( + e'l)

< (l
2
+ p') I1(S n {p: er1 ? )(p) K 1})" 11(e-2y2)
+ (e2 + e) ||(S n {p: 1 ? <(p)K })7t 11(e29)
< 6,T + 6e
in case e < 1? ,l.
(4) As in (2), we can assume without loss of generality that
I o7 o'7- oS(p)I > 0

for Hm almost all p e S. One sets , Hm(A)-1/2and S,= S n {p: r(p) < e71}.
By (3),
IIm(u(S- S,)) < 6e + 6Hm(A)"2.
Then
Hm(u(si)n w-'(A)) - (S,n w-'(A)) I ([1 + (e-l,)2]1/2)
< (1 ? r2)1/2M(wo ISfln w-(A) )

? (1 + '2)"2(Hm(A) + d2)
(Hm(A)2 + Hm(A)) 12 + d2(1 + H (A)-1)1"2
< 2Hm(A)"/2 + 2d2HEm(A)-1/2
since Hm(A) < 1. (4) follows.

4.8. COROLLARY. Let b5be as in 4.6. Suppose S e Zm(C,DC; G); |wu#S
I
IDm x {0} where w= Rm x {0} reIm(Rm+1), and 0 < 2E(S) < E < a(m)/3.
(1 ) There exists y0e Rn such that
M(S n {(x, y), 1y - Yo i> b5n1I2E-m1-)'ImE(S)1I2}) < 3nE

(2) If yeRR, h >0, EK< a(m)/9n, and
M(S n {(x,y): y - Y1i> h}) < a(m)/3,
then
yo - yj I < h + b5nhI2E-(m-'l)ImE(S)l12
where y0is as in (1).
PROOF. Defineaj: Rml+n Rm+'by setting uj(x, y) = (x, E(S) 2yj) for

xeRmyeRn,j = 1, .* *, n. By 4.7(2),
M(uiS) < a(m) + E(S) + 6

for each j since projectionsdo not increaseexcess mass. The conditionsof
4.6 are satisfiedby each u#S. We can thus choose y? correspondingto y0 in
4.6 and conclude,setting u = Rmx {0},
n {(x,Y): IY -
2E > M(w#[a$S JI > b5E-(m 1)Im}])
n {(x,Y): I
=m(7w4[s j- E(S)112'y I > b5E(S)lI2E-(m-lI}
whichimplies
a(m) - 2E < M(S n {(x, y): I j- E(S)1/2y. I< b5E(S)12EE-(mil)Im})m
since projectionsdo not increasemass, and hence

2E + E(S) < M(S n{(x,Y): I j- E(S)1/2yv I> b5E(S)1/2E-(m-')m})
Settingy0 = E(S)12(y2,*1, y1)

we have
n(2E + E(S)) < M(S n {(x,Y): 1y- yoI> n1I2b5E-1m-ImE(S)lI2})
whichimpliesconclusion(1). Conclusion(2) is trivial.
4.9. COROLLARY. Let G e G and C4 > 0. Then there exists C8 < oo such
that if
(i ) S e Zm(CI C; G),
(ii) OesptS,
(iii) I (Rm x {0}),S Dm X {O}1I
-
(iv) 2E(S) < 2E(S)1/2 < a(m)/3

(v) r-mM(S n D(p, r)) > C4whenever p e spt S and 0 < r < dist(p, spt&S)
(compare 3.2(a)(**)), then
spt S n {(x, Y): IXI 1 - c8E(S)1/2m}C {(x, Y): I Y I < c8E(S)1/2m}
PROOF. Take E = E(S)1/2in 4.8 and use (v).
= Rx
4.10. THEOREM. Let G e G and wm Then for each s > O0 {0}lrm.
C
there exists & > 0 with the following property. Let T e Z.-(&C, 0; G) and
k = (ma(m))4M(7;T) be the multiplicity of the projection of T. If E=
E(T) < & and
M(w4[T n Rm x Dn(O,6E"12)])? kma(m) -a
then
(1) there exists S1 c Zm(C,DC;G) such that aS1= T IS nC(w,0,1-) I =
k I Dm(O, 1- a) x {O} 1,and
E(S') < sE(T);
and
(2) there exists

S2 C Zm(C(W, 0, 1 + S) - C0, aC U aC(w, 0, 1 + s); G)

such that aS2 = ?rk(aDm(O,1 + e) x {O}) - T and
M(S2) - M(w#S2)< sE(T).
PROOF. We denote h: Rm-+, R+, h(x, y) = I for x e Rm,y e Rn. For
h > 0, we set Th = T n {p: h(p) < h}, and define
m: R+ -R+
m(h) = M(Th) - M( Th 1,) (see 4.1(4)).
For T almost all p with h(p) > 0, we define0(p) to be the angle between
T 1(p)C Fm and the line through p, w(p). Note that 0 < 0(p) < w/2 and
IT - TJ? > I TJ A (1-sin0).
Part 1. IfO < h1 < h2 <co and e > O with M(;uoTh) (k - 1/2)ma(m),
and M(Th2) < kma(m) - e, then
(1) M(aTh2) > Coem2Im1)
for a suitable isoperimetricconstant co > 0 depending only on m. Indeed one

writes 17uT I = i I Ti I as in 2.6(c) where the T, are disjoint measurable
subsets of Dm x {0} and applies either 3.2(a) or [A2 8.7].
Part 2. Let c2 be as in Part 1 and 0 < h1 < h2 < with M(; Th1) >
(k - 1/2)ma(m)and M(Th2) < kma(m). Then
(2) (h2- h1)2< 2c-2(kma(m) - M(Th ))-2(m-2)/(ml)
*
M( Th2- Th) (m(h2)- m(hD))
We see this as follows. Set
e = kma(m) - M(Th2) < kma(m)M(Th)
foreach h1< h < h2. By (1), M(aTh) 2 Coem2)Im1) foreach h1< h < h2. Thus
Co(h2- h)em-2)Im) = \ 2c~e(m-2)/(m-1)dh

hl
< |2 M(aTh)dh
hi
= \ RmnO(p) dIl Th2 - T1 IIP

Hence
2-h)2e2(m-2)/('m-) <-(| +mcOSO(P) dHlTh2- TIP)
? M(Th2- c(p)
Th1)N dIlcos Th2 -Th1 IIP
?2M(Th2- T 1)l (1 - sinO(p)) d|| Th2 - Th IIP
? 2M(T2 - Th)(m(hl) - m(h,)),

which proves (2). Here we have used Schwarz's inequality and the fact that
Cos2 = 1 - sin2 < 2(1 - sin)
Part 3. Let c0 be an is Part 1, and set cl = 2112cr-1. Let 0 < <h3 K<o
such that M(Wr#Th)> (k - 1/2)ma(rn), and h3 = sup {h: M(Th) < kma(m) - E}.
Then
( )3 (h -h 0)2 < [c2(M _

1)(mnta()/2)1I/m-')]jE1Im-1)
pC Rm+(h(p)- ho)2d Th3- Tho IP

P
(4) < cI(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)1/(m-1)
CM(Th) =kma(in) -E
l1M(Th)=M(Th)E (kma(m) - M(Th))1Imn-1)dm(h) -
M(Th) =M(Tho)
We see this as follows. (2) impliesthat, foralmostall ho< h1 < h2< h3,
(h2- hi) < cl(m(h2)- m(hl))"/2IM(Th2 - ThI)12.(kmra(m) -

-nM(Th))-(--2)/(-)
Thus foralmostall ho< h < h3,

1 < ci(dm(h)/dh)112(dM(
Th)/dh)1/2(kma(m) - M( Th))-m-2)(m1-l)
and
(h3- ho) = | dH < cl hh3(dm(h)/dh)112(dM(Th)/dh)112

ho h= ho
.(kma(m) - M(Th))-(m-2) 1(m-l'dHlh
and thus
(h3-h )2< S (dm(h)/dh)112(dM(Th)/dh)112(kma(m) - M( Th))-(m 2)I(mn1)dHh1
< c{ | (kma(m) - M( Th))-(m-2) I(m-1)(dM( Th)/dh)dHlhl
[3(k -(m) -M( Th))-(m-2)I(m-1)(dm(h)/dh)dHjh1
We have used Schwarz's inequality again. Since
h3
(dm(h)/dh)dHih < E= E(T),
we have
(h3-h0)2 < C 12[(fi,-)(ma(m)/2)1I(m-)][jE(m-2)(m)E]
which implies (3). To obtain (4) we compute

=
\|G m~n(h(p) - h0)2 dflTh33z=ho
-T ITIP
| (Z- h)2dM(Tz)
p, Rm+n
< C2(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)1(m-1)
*\
::2\(kma(m)
z=:ho
h
h=ho
-
M(Th))-(m-2)Im1-')dm(h)dM(T,)
=l(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)1I(m-1)
h=h3 M(Tz)=komr(m)-E
. (kma(m) - M(Th))-m.-2)I(m-l)dM(Tz)dm(h)
h
h=h J M(Tz)(=M(Th)
c=2(m- 1)(ma(m)/2)1I(m1) (kma(m) - E - M(Th))
*(kma(m) - M(Th))-(m-2)/(m-1)dm(h)
< C 2(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)l1/(m-1)
* hh3
(kma(m) - M(Th))'1(m-1 (kma(m) - M(Th)- Ed(h)
dmh
h =:ho''-- h; ~ kma(m) - M(Th)
< c'(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)1I(m-1)

M(Th ) =kma(m)-E
-
M(Th)=M(Tho)
(kma(m) M(Th))1I(m-')dm(h)
whichis (4).
Part 4. Suppose 0 < ro< 1 and 0 < a < 1/2. Set ho= aE"12,and suppose
E < a and M(;roTh0)> kma(m) - 3. Set h3 =sup{h: M(Th) ? kma(m) - E}.
We considerthe case 3ho< h3. Generalpositionconsiderationsallow us to
assume withoutloss of generalitythat T n h-1(h3)= 0. We now construct
the surfaceS1. Set
(a) u: Rm+n ?Rm+n (x, Y) =(x, Y) if I<h3,?1(X, y) = (x, I y I'h3Y)
if 1y1 > h3;
(b) v: R x Rm+- Rm v(r, x, y) = (rx, y);

(c) w: Rn+n ,Rm+n,w(x, y) (x, 0) if Ix ?< ro,
w(x, Y') = (x, ( - ro)-'(l x I- ro)y)
if ro< Ix I < 1, w(x, y) = (x, y) if I x >? 1;
(d) T1 = uT (note M(T1) < M(T) = kma(m) + E);
(e) T2= T - T1 (note M(T2) < 2E);
(f ) S1 = (wov)01O,1] x T1 = (w ov)[0, 1] x 'uT (noteaS= T1);
(g) S2 ( Zm(C, aC; G) is chosenso that aS2 = T2 and
M(S2) = inf {M(U): U Zm(Cq DC; G) and aU = T2}
(h) S' = S1 + S2 (note that aS1 = aS1 + aS2 = T1 + T2 = T).
We now computeestimateson M(S2) and M(S1).
(a) From2.9(a2) we knowthat

M(S2) < (CM(T2)) m-) < (2c)m/('-')Em/(m-1)

Thus if El/(m-1)< a1/(m-1)< (s/5)(2c)-mI(m/-1)then
M(S2) < (s/5)E.
(b) Since T1n C(, 0, r.) = (wov)#[O,ro] x T1 ?+kDm(O, ro) x {0},
M((w o v)J[O,ro] x T1) = ka(m)rn .
(c) Note that for 11[ro, 1] x T, 11almostall (r, x, y) e [ro,1] x Rn+n,
X([r0, 1]*x T*)(r, x, y) =r A XT*(x,y) 2 Am. Hence
M(S1n c C(w,0, ro)) = M((w ov)#[ro,1] x T1)
<I(w ov),(r, x, y; ar)
RXRm+n
(w ova r, x, y; T*(x, y)) Id|| [r0 1] x T1||(r, x, y)

< (1 + [(1 - ro)h(x,y)]2)1I2rm-1d1I[ro, 1] x T1||(r, x, y)
RXRm+n
A-
5RXrm + rnm'(l- ro)2h(x,y)2d1l[,r0,1] x T 11I(r,
x, y)
5rm-1drS d T1 I(x, y)
r=rO Rm+n
+ rm-1(1 - ro)-2dr h(x, y)2dI T3hOI (x, Y)
+ 5r~7ro
mii - ro)-2dr\R~ h(x,y)2dI Th3 - T3h0I (x, Y)
r=rO Rm+n
+5 r=70rm1 _-
r)-2dr\ h2dI T1 - Th3(,y
We now obtainestimateson each of the foursummandsabove.

(d) The firstsummanddoes not exceed
\rml(kma(m) + E)dr < ka(m)(1 - r-) + (1 - ro)E.
r=ro
(e) The secondsummanddoes not exceed
(1 - ro)-1(3h0)2(kma(m) + E) = 9(kma(m) + E)(1 - ro)-l32E.
(f) The thirdsummanddoes not exceed
(1- ro)-1\ m+nh(x, y)2dI Th3 -
T3hO (x, Y)
< 4(1 - ro)-l (h(x, y) - h0)2d Th3- T3hOII(x, Y)
< 4(1 - ro)-1l (h(x, y) - h )2dII Th3To - T (x, y)

< 4(1 - ro)-l2(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)1/(m-1)
rM(Th) =kwoa(n)-E
*\ - M(Th)]1'mI dm(h)
[kmrna(m)
? M(Th)=M(Tho)
< 4 l(m1)(mat(m)/2)l1m-l( _r)l/(-

because [kma(m)- M( Th)] <? forho< h< h3,and m(h3)- m(h1)< SUphm < E.
We have used (4) of Part 3.
(g) The fourthsummanddoes not exceed
(1 - r0)-lh'M(Tl - Th3)
< (1 - r,)-'E[(h3- h0)2+ 2h3h0- h']
?< (1 - ro)-'E[cl(m - 1)(ma(m)/2)1'm1?)]E1I/ml)
+ (1 - ro)-'E.2[c1(m - m'1)] 12E1/2(m1-) + a2E
1)(ma(m)/2)1'
We have used (3) of Part 3 here.

Part 5. Suppose that s > 0 has been given. We now choose a > 0 to
satisfythe conditionsof the theorem.We wishthereforeto choose0 < a < 1/2
and 1 - s < r. < 1 to satisfythe followingrequirements:
(i a
3/(m-1)< (,s/5)(2c:)-m/(m-1
(ii (1 - ro) < s/5
(iii) 9(kma(m) + E)(1 - ro)'-2 < s/5
(iv) 41(m -l)(ma(m)/2)1(m-1)(l - ro)-11/(m-1)< s/5
( V ) [C2(m - l)(m(m)/2)1I(m1)](l ro)-11/(m1) < s/15 -
(vi) [c2(m 1)(m2a(m)/2)1I(mn-1)]112(1 ro)-1a1/2(mnl)< s/30

- -
(vii) a2 < s/15.

The desired choices of ro and a are clearly possible. If the hypothesesof
the theoremare satisfied,the estimatesof Part 4 togetherwith (i), *.,(vi)
above show that
M(S1) < M(S1) + M(S2) < ka(m) + sE,
so that E(S1) < sE, providedwe assume in Part 4 that 3ho< h3. If 3h0> h3,
simplerargumentssuffice.The existence of S2 in (2) followsfromsimilar
constructions.
5. Some consequences of ellipticity
The chiefresultsof Chapters5 and 6 are the estimates of Theorem6.9
uponwhichthe regularitytheoremsof Chapter7 are based. Theorem6.9 says
essentiallythatan F minimalsurfaceS whichlies near an m disk has interior
firstand second derivatives (in, roughly,a distributionsense) which are
boundedbya constanttimesthe square rootof the excess E(S), and that one
can estimatethe excess of S above smallertiltedm disksaccordingly.These
estimatesin 6.9 arise fromcorresponding uniformestimateson interiorfirst
and second derivativesof distributionsolutionsto ellipticsystemsof linear
partial differentialequations with uniformlyboundedconstantcoefficients
(5.5). To reduce the problemto distributionsand linear partial differential
equations, we make suitable diffeomorphic coordinatechanges(5.1), replace

362 JR.
F. J. ALMGREN,
the projectionof S into Rm'+by an oriented surface (integral currentor

integerchain)(6.1),and pass to appropriatelimitsinvolvingboth homothetic
expansionsin Rmn+and furtherhomotheticexpansionsof the {O} x RI coordi-
nates(6.2). Theorem5.9 providesa boundon the expansion of the {O} x RI
coodinatesnecessaryin 6.2, whichboundis necessaryin computingthe vari-
ations in the proofsof 6.4 and 6.6. In 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, we show that the defini-
tionof ellipticityin 1.2 impliesthe usual ellipticityhypothesesforthe linear
and non-linearsystemsof partial differential equations which arise in this
paper.
5.1 The components of an integrand with respect to Rm x {O}. Let
F: Rm-+x Pm R+ be an integrand. We also denoteby F the function
F: Rm+nx Am(Rm-+,)
n {,e: ,a is simple} -R+
F(p, 0) -0
F(p, It) = I ,p I F(p, ryo X,1(1,- 1-1p,)
when pais a non-zerosimplem vector.
I[Rmx {0}]#(Xao'wV7) I > 0} and defines
One sets J = rn+7, n {wf:
Po
71 _ >Amf(Rm+n)
ry: M
by requiringforeach we Vo that
7 X-1'( ?(W) K-'?(Z)) = 7
where
? E k=ll()k
(&x1
,)(Z) (ax,+ 1Y(W)&Yk) A
/\
..
/\ (ax.
&m+~=
+ 5k7,rm(77y(7r}aYk).
88)
Here x1, **,x. yg,are the standard orthonormal coordinates for

and y1, ...
Rmand Rn respectively,where Rm+n -= Rmx Rn Note that r7is an analytic
diffeomorphism.
and S(p) e I, forHm almost
One notesthat, if S c Rm"'lis m rectifiable,
all p in S, then
F(S) 5+ F(P+ (S(p)))dIISRMX{O1

IIP
Note also that if f: Rm- Rn is of class 1, x eRm, and wr

e]'~ is the
tangent m plane to the graph of f at (x, f(x)), then
77E(Z) = (af k/aZi)(X),
for each i - 1 m andk= , * *,n.

For F as above one definesforp e Rm+',z e IPm,
(a) C CF: Rm+- x PO?- R, C(p, w) = F(p, ax, A ... axm)

(b) L = L, Rm+nx Fo RI
L(p, w) ={l(i, k)(p).r(w): i 1, *.., m and k = 1, *. , n},
whereforeach i and k,
I(i, k)(p) = lr(i, k)(p) =(alay) )F(p, 70) 112=axlA
.. axi v
(C) Q = QF:Rm+nx o R
Q(p, w) 2-1{q(i, j, k, 1)(p)r)7(z)ry)(): i, j 1, *.., m and k, 1 =1, **, n}
where,foreach i, j, k, 1,
q(i, j, k, l)(p) = qF(i, j, k, l)(p) = (&2/8ry241)F(p,
'2) *=axi. Aax., I
(d) H = HF: Rm+nx F- R

H(p, w) F(p, '(z)) - C(p, r) - L(p, w) - Q(p, w).
the constant,linear, quadratic, and higher
C, L, Q,H are calledrespectively
order components of F with respect to Rm x {O}.
If S c Rmn+is as above, then
F(S) = esF(p, S(p))d IIS IIp

= C(S) + L(S) + Q(S) + H(S)
= pes[C(p, S(p)) + L(p, S(p)) + Q(pj S(p)) + H(p, S(p))]dHjSRmx{OI IIP
Note that these two integrationsare withrespectto different

measures.
5.2. Coordinate changes which simplify the components of an inte-
grand at 0. Let F be an integrand, and CF, LF, QF, HF its constant, linear,
quadratic,and higherordercomponentswithrespectto Rmx {0} respectively.
We now constructchanges of coordinatesnear the origin to reduce the
dependenceof F upon its constantand linearcomponentsthere. We define
forx RJm, y 2 Rn
(1 ) = PF: Rm+' Rm+
P
(P(x, y) = (xi + Yk=l *k

, * Xm + Lk =1cPYkj Y1, 'Yn),
where for each i = 1, ***, m and k 1, **, n,

k = CF((0, 0)), R X {0})'l(i, k)(0, 0)
wherethe l(i, k) are as in 5.1. If G = #F, then LG((O, 0), w) = 0 foreach
wE J'm.
( 2) *1 = FRmnRm+n
*'(x, y) = (41 + y-yg/mCF((O, 0), Rmx {0})], y) if y, 0
( ) = (x YG n if =
where grad CF(. I Rm x {0})(01 O) =(x*, y.). If G = *1F near 0, then

grad CG(. I Rmx {0})(0O 0) = [Rmx {O}]#

grad CF(., Rmx {O})(0O,)0
Since D*1(0, 0) is the identity,LF((O, 0), ) LG((O, 0), ).
(3) * 2 = F: Rm+n, Rm+n
*2(x, y) = (x*[x.x*/l x* 12] + (x - x*[x.x*/l x* 12])
(1 + [x'x*/(m -)CF((O, 0), Rmx{O})]), y) if x* 0
= (x, y) if x* 0,
wheregrad CF( , Rmx {O})(0, 0) (x*, y*). If G = *2/F near 0, then
grad CG(. I Rmx {O})(0, 0) = [{O} x Rn]# grad CF(., Rmx {O})(0, 0) .
Since D *2(0, 0) is the identity,LF((O, 0), ) LG((O, 0), )
(4 ) =J=bF:Rn+, Rm+n
AXH ? G? (TF,
where G =PFOF and H= */4G near 0. One notes, that setting J = IF#F
near 0,
grad CJ(.,
*)(0, 0) = 0
Lj((O10), -) = O
and hence
(d/dt)J((x,y), [ax, + Ek(Yl + tS')&yk1 A * A [aXm + Ek(2 + tSm)&Yk]) t=o
= lS10( xI + 1y1 + L'd),
whenever s, Y) e Rmnwith I Y I < 1.

Note that M: Rm+nx rm {i} is the m area integrandand that
CM((X,y), ) =1
LM((x,Y), w) = 0
QM((x, y), w) = 2{,(w ()2: i = n
1, * , m and k = 1, * , n}
foreach x e Rm,y e RB,and z e J'm. In particular,then, if F:n rR+ x
Rm9
is as above, and if F?((x, y), w) = F((0, 0), w) for each (x, y) eRn+1, and
LF((0, 0), =) 0, thenthereis a finiteconstantCF such that foreach V e Vn,
V(F0) - VRmx{oI(FO) ?< CF[V(M) - VRmX{oJ(M)]
CF[M(V) - M([Rm x {0}]OV)]

5.3. Spaces of integrands. For the remainder of this paper, we let
G 2 G be fixed, and let F1: Rm+nx rUm R n {t: t > 0} be a fixed integrand
-
whichis ellipticwithrespectto G and threetimescontinuously

differentiable.
We denoteby SYthe space of all integrandsof the formgoo # z-#F1corres-
pondingto all translationsz-:Rm'+n> Rm+nthrougha distanceno morethan
1, all orthogonal maps 0: Rm,+n
R-* + and all maps g: Rmn+-n Rm+nof the
form

g(x, y) = (x, y + yo + 10(x))

for x 2 Rm,y 2 Rn where I y0I < 1 and l.: Rm-Rn is linear with I1oI < 1. From
the compactness properties of 7F,one concludes the existence of and fixes
r? > r1 > 0 such that ?IF I Dm-n(O,r?) is a diffeomorphism onto its image, and
Dm 7(O,r') c bIF(D +n(O, r?)) for each F e i. We denote by g the space of all
integrands which in Dm-+(O,rl) x rUm are of the form 4)F#F corresponding to
F e i. Note that the spaces of functions {FI D M+"(0, r?) x Fm: F e i} and
{J IDm-+(O, r') x .m:Je J} are each compact in the class 3 topology. We
denote by S2 c R-2"2 the compact set of points q = {qj(i, j, kg,l)}li,jkl corre-
sponding to J e J.
5.4. PROPOSITION. ( 1 ) Let F be a C(3) elliptic integrand with respect to
the function c as in 1.2. Then for each function ao: D- -R' of class oo with
a) AD 1n_ O
5~ffi~j~klqF(iq 1)(0, 0)(a kaXi)(allaxj)dHM

j, kg,
?- C(O)5ik(/&O8k/Xi)2dHm
(2) For Fas in (1),
Itj~s qF(iq jq kg1),-i~jyky~l #

O
whenever =(djj * M~)# Oand 77=(r)1q **, Y)n)# o.
( 3 ) There exists c' > 0 such that if o) is as in (1) and q -
{q(i, j, kg,1)}i,jkl C D, then

J i j k, 1 q(ig j, kg, _ clEVLi
l)(a(!)k/axi)(ao)1 a3xj)dxHM k (a60k/aXj2 dHm
PROOF. ( 1 ) For each s > 0, we have

S-2[F' x ({(x, y): x c Dm, y so(x)}) - F(Dm x {0})]
Ei
?,k 1F(ig k)(O, 0)(acw/axj)dHM
+ m 21L J qF(i, j, k, 1)(0, O)(aDo)/&xi)(ao/&xj)dHm + 0(s)

? c(0)G-2M {(X, y): x e Di, y M(x)} - M DM x {} 1
+
5Dm21Ei,k (&ok /&Xi)2 dHm 0(82)
Conclusion (1) follows since s is arbitrary, and
5D(ao)kl/Xi)dHm = 0 for each i and k .

Dm
(2 ) (2) follows from (1) by a standard application of the Fourier trans-

formand Parseval's formula.

( 3 ) (3) followsfrom(1) and the compactnesspropertiesof J.
5.5. Elliptic systems of linear partial differential equations and
distribution solutions. By a distribution?k on Dm we mean, as usual, a
continuouslinearfunctionalon thespace &2of all class O functionsw: Do R
having compactsupport. The partial derivativesof a distribution?k are
definedby setting (DDk/8xi)((o) =- Vk(a(o/xi), etc. By an Rn valued distri-
bution?Don DoS we mean an n-tuple D = (9E1,..., 9') of distributions,or,
equivalently,a continuouslinearmapping?: Ad Rn, in whichcase !Tk(wO)
?@bo))k foreach k. We denote by D the real vector space of all Rn valued
distributions on Dom.
Suppose l(i, k; a) and q(i, j, k, 1) are real numbersfor a, i, j 1=, **, m
and k, 1 = 1, ... , n. We definethe linearoperator
2e (2P1 ... , 2n): D ) D
by settingforeach =
1, **,n and each 9 = (91, * a) e D,
( * ) S (@D) = (- 1)mil(j 1; i) + E i-j k q(i, j, k, l)( gJk/&xiDxj)
where,foreach w e A2,
l(i, k, i)(@o) = I(il kc;i)8 otdHin

DM
(a2g11aXiaXj)((@) = 9)1(a2(OaXiaXj)
The operator2 is called elliptic, as usual, if and onlyif

0 = ijjk, I q(i, j, Ic,
1
jyC ,
whenever 0 # e ( j, * em R and 0 # ) = (p',1** n) c Rn Equiva-

lently2 is ellipticif and onlyif thereexists c > 0 such that
1m ijkj q(i, j, kI l)(aQOk /DXi)3(af/&xj)dHlm > 4 m Eik (8(t)/&aXi)dHm
for each (o C D. In particular, 2 is elliptic, when q = {q(i, j, k, 1)lijkl c 2 by

5.4(3), and one can take c = c'.
We knowfromthe theoryof ellipticsystemsof linearpartialdifferential
equations[H] that, if 2 is ellipticand ?De D with2(i) = 0, then there is a
real analyticfunctionf:Dm- Rn such that D = f in the sense that
9 (0j)) f(o)dHxn
D ?
foreach w C D. Furthermore we can applythe variousestimatesof thelinear

theoryin a uniformway to obtainthe followingresult.
Let Kc DJmbe compact and L < Ao. Then there exists C= C(K, L, 2)

such that
( 1 ) if l(i, k; a) < L for each i, k, a;
(2) if q = {q(i, j, kg,1)}j,,kZl 2;
( 3 ) if S: D-UD is defined as in (*) corresponding to l(i, j; a), q(i, j, k, 1)
in (1), (2) above;
( 4) if ?DC D with 2(9) = 0 corresponds to the real analytic function
f: Done R4 as above; and
(5) if |
DO
If I dHm< L, then
(Of /aXi)(X)< C,
< C
(&Ofk/&Xjdxj)(x)
for each x e K, each i = 1, ** m, , and each k = 1, n.
5.6. General elliptic systems of partial differential equations and
continuously differentiablesolutions. Suppose F c W. Since F can be inte-
grated over arbitrarym rectifiablesets, it can, in particularbe integrated
over the graphof a continouslydifferentiablefunctionu: Dm Rn. Since the -
value of F dependsonlyon the pointin space and the tangentplane direction

at that point, we can express the integralof F over the graph of such a
functionu in termsof x, u(x), and Du(x) for x C Dm by an analytic change
of coordinates;say
F({(x, y): x E DI, y = u(x)}) = I(x, u, Du) = 51(X, u(x), Du(x))dHmx.
If we assume that the graph of u minimizesF relative to the graph of

u I ADm,thenthe usual firstvariationof u mustbe zeroforeach deformation.
Supposethenthat g: DIn- Rn is of class withsptg c DI". Then,fort C R.
I(x, u + tg,D(u + tg)) 51(X,u(x) + tg(x),Du(x) + tDg(x))dHmx
commonto the calculus of variations,

and thus,in the terminology
o (d/dt)I(x,u + tg,D(u + tg)) I,
= Ek1(I/ajyk)(X,u(x), Du(x)) gk(x)dHnx
+ | =l En 1 (dI/&pi)(x,u(x), Du(x)) . (agk/&x)(x)dHmx
= (a&I/yk)(X, u(x), Du(x)) gk(x)dHnx
\,
- k (8/&xi)(&I/&pi)(x, u(x), Du(x)) g (x)dHsx

368 F. J. ALMGREN,JR.
Since g is arbitrary, we have for each k = 1, *.., n,

0 = (aI/yk
)(x, u(x), Du(x)) - Z.(&/&xj)(&I/&pi)(x,u(x), Du(x))
= (&I/Uyk)(X,u(x), Du(x))
E ja2laxiapi)(x, u(x),Du(x)).l
- alp)(x,
hi ,1=( (21/8y u(x), Du(x)) *(aul/&xi)(x)
- J- 1 (aJ/pjap{)(X, u(x), Du(x)) .

(a2lu'l/,axa)(x)
To verifythe ellipticityof the above systemof second orderpartialdiffer-

entialequations,we mustexaminethe coefficientsof the secondorderterms.
Considerthepointx = 0 and supposewithoutloss of generalitythat u(O) = 0.
Considerthe linearmap
L: RmA+n
- M+n
L(x, y) = (xl, *x, xn,y1- Eixi(aull/xi)(O), ***, y. -Exi(au"Vaxi)(O)) .

One sets for v: Dm Rn continuously differentiable,
I*(x, v(x), Dv(x)) = I(x, v(x) + Exi(Du/&xi)(O), Dv(x) + Du(O)),
and observesthat, foreach i, j, k, 1,
(&2I*/&pl&p~)(O, 0, 0) = (&2I/&pl-pl)(O,u(O), Du(O))

= qL F@i, j, k, 1)(0,0) (see 5.1(c)) .
By 4.3, LF is elliptic because F is and L is linear. From 5.4(2) one concludes
that the Euler equationsabove forman ellipticsystem. We thus know the
followingresultfrom[M6].
If k > 3 is a positive integer on ao, F is a C(k) inte.grand (real analytic
integrand) which is elliptic in the sense of 1.2, and u: Dmn R" is a con- -
tinuously differentiable function whose graph {(x,y): x c DYn,y = u(x)} is F

minimal with respect to {(x, y): x C aDm, y = u(x)}, then ufDomis of class
k - 1 (is real analytic).
5.7. PROPOSITION. Let F: Fm.(Rm+f)>R+ be twice continuously differ-
entiable.
( 1 ) If n = 1, then F is an elliptic integrand if and only iJ F is uni-
formly convex (see 2.1).
(2) If F is uniformly convex and n is arbitrary, then there exist
constants a > 0 and b < o that, for 7UC rn,
a(M(T) - M(zwT)) < F(T) - F(wrT) < b(M(T) - M(;rT))
whenever T C Zm(Rm-+'A7r;Z).

(3 ) There exists a neighborhoodN of the m area integrand Pm(Rm+n)

{1} in the class 2 topologysuch that if Fe N, then F is elliptic.
PROOF. ( 1 ) In view of 6.1, conclusion(1) is impliedby conclusion(2).
( 2 ) In view of 2.6(e), we need prove(2) onlyin the case in which T is
polyhedral.In that case, a straightforward calculationin Am(Rmn+")
suffices.
(3) In case F is sufficiently close to the m area integrandFm(Rmn+n)
{1} in the class 2 topology,then
(I'e4F)A$F(V - [Rm x {O}]$V) > 2-'[M(V) - M([Rm x {0}],V)]
for each V C Vmand each orthogonal map 0: Rm+n Rm+n
5.8. PROPOSITION. There exist positive numbers b6,b7,b8with thefollow-
ing properties: Set 7r= Rmx {O}and suppose 0 < r < r1/2.
( 1 ) Let Ve Vm(D(O,2r)) and J g. Then
V(J) - (wrV)(J) < bj[M(V) - M(QV)] + b8rM(V).
( 2 ) Let S c D(O, 2r) be a surface which spans some non-trivial element
of Hm(Rm+n, aDm(O, r) x {O}; G) with Hm(S) < 2rma(m). Also let F e 2 U g.
Then
b6[Hm(S) - Hm(Dm(O,r) x {0})] - b8rm+l

< F(S) - F(Dm(O, r) x {O})
b7[Hm(S) - Hm(Dm(O,r) x {O})] + b8rm-l.

<
PROOF. ( 1 ) For J c J let J' be the integrand given by J?(p, a) = J(O,a)
for p e Rn+n,a c Fm. Let M-- 1 denotethe m area integrandas in 5.2(4). It
is clear thenfrom5.2(4) and the compactnesspropertiesof g thatthereexists
b <0 such that, for each a e Fm and each p e R-+ff
J0(p, )- Oo r-l'aI JO(p, w(a)) < b'[1 - 1# OX O ]
b'[M(p, a) - I OX o -y-'a I M(p, c(a))]
J is clearlylocallylipschitzian. Hence conclusion(1) is valid wheneverb7> b'
and b8? 4 sup {Lip J(., a) I Dm-+'(O,r'): a C Fm}. This choice of constantsis
clearlypossibleuniformly over all J e g.
( 2 ) For Fe 2, let F? be the integrandgiven by F?(p, a) = F(O, a) for
p e R-+", a e Fm. The ellipticityof F at 0 impliesthe existence of b6> 0
(chosenuniformly over all F e 2 and independentof S and r) such that
b6[HEm(S)- Hm(Dm(O,r) x {0})] < F?(S) - FO(Dm(O,r) x {0}) .
Let J = 'IF#F in Dm-+n(O,
rl) x Pm, Je Jg,
and J' as in (1). Then, as in (1),
-
JO(D1?F(O S)) -;7 | DJF(O, S) I (J') < b'[Hm(DJF(O,S)) M(w# I DI'F(, S) |)]
whichgives

Jo(DjF(o, S)) -
Jo(Dm(O,r) x {0}) < b"[Hm(D'F(0, S)) -
Hm(Dm(O, r) x {0})]
whenb" = sup {b', J?(p, r)-'b'}, and thus
F?(S) - FO(Dm(O,r) x {0}) < bTlbb"[Hm(S)- Hm(Dm(O,r) x {0})]
whenb1is as in 4.3 with L = {D'F(O)-1: F e f}. Conclusion(2) then holds
for Fe Ti whenever b7> b7'b" and
b8> 6a(m) sup {Lip F(., a) I Dm+f(O,r'): F e I U g and a C Im} .
Conclusion(2) withFe g is obviousin light of the above. The choice of b6,
b7,b8is now clearlypossible.
5.9. THEOREM. Let 0 < s < 1/32 and s > 0. Then there exist positive
numbers ao,b,, b10,b11,b12with the following property. Suppose 0 < r < r1/2
and S C Zm(C(r, 0, r), aC(r, 0, r): G) satisfies the following conditions:
( i ) For some J e J, S minimizes J with respect to aS,
(ii) I 2rS I= ID-(O, r) x{O 1
(iii) E(2rqO. r)(S) < bg,
(iv) M(w$(sn [Rmx Dt(O, rh(r, 0, r; ao)(S))])) > rm(a(m) - a), where we
have written wr= Rm x {O}e rP. Then for each p e Dm(O,3r/4) x {O}, either
(1l ) b11E(r,0, r)(S)"2 < h(r, 0, r; ao)(S) < bl2E(wr,0, r)(S)"12
or
(2) E(w, p, sr)(S) < sE(w, 0, r)(S) + blrs

Furthermore, if necessary, ao can be chosen smaller than any preassigned
positive number.
PROOF. We will firstshow that, if a0, b9,b1lare sufficiently
small, b1ois
sufficientlylarge, and
(a) h(w, 0, r; 6o)(S) < b1jE(r, 0, r)(S)1/2, then
(b) E(w, p, rs)(S) < sE(r, 0, r)(S) + b10rs.
For Te Zm(G) and t > 0, we write T, = T n c(, p, t). Corollary4.9 implies
that, if b, is small enough, then spt T2rsc Dm+f(p,3rs). We considertwo
possibilities. First, if E(wr,p, rs)(Srs) < sE(-, 0, r)(S), then(b) is immediate.
We thus assume the second possibilitythat E(r, p, rs)(Srs) > sE(r, 0, r)(S)
and conclude from (a) that, for each 1 < t < 29
h(r, p, rst; s-mnal)(Srst)
< s-'h(r, 0, r; &0)(S)
< s-1b11E(r, 0, r)(S)"I2
< s-'s-"2b11E(w, p, rs)(Sr,)"12

< 2 /2S-l8-lI2bj1E(w, p, rs)(Sst)"/2
One now chooses1 < t < 2 in accordancewith4.2 (takingp = 2 and making

use of theobvioushomothetic and translations)and concludes

transformations
rs[M(&Srst)- M(WI&Srst)]< 2[M(S2rs)-M(IS2r,)] 1
rs[M(&srstn {(x, y): y 1> rh(wr,0, r; &0)(S)})] < 2rn(a0 + bs)
We now use 4.10(l)(2) to constructsurfaces SI and S2 (analogous to the
surfacesSI and S2 of 4.10(l) and 4.10(2) respectively,havingmade use of the
obvioushomothetictranformations and translations)such that
M(S1 + S2) - M(ICw(Sl+ S2)) < 28'L[M(S2rs) - M(7i(S2,.)]
wheres' > 0 (analogousto s > 0 in 4.10) can be made as small as necessary
by choosingb,,b1l,and a, small. If b6,b7,b8are the constantsof 5.8 (chosen
takingF = (-p)OJ and adapting5.8 to applyto G chains),then,since S is J
minimal,
b6[M(Srs) - M(fmroS)] - b8((1 + 8')rst)m+1

< b6[M(Sr~t + S2) - M(;CO(Srst+ S2))] - b8((l + 8')rst)m+1
< J(Srst + S2) - J(;#(srst + S 2))
< J(S1 + S2) - J(;#(S' + S2))
< b7[M(S1 + S2) - M(;(S' + S2))] + b8((1 + 8')rst)M?1
< 28'b7[M(S2rs) - M(wCS2r,)] + b8((l + s')rst)M+1
< 2s'b74M(S) - M(wrS)] + b8((1 + s')rst)M+1
< 28'b7e'-s-m[M(Srs) - M(;r#Sr7)]+ b8((1 + c')rst)M+1
< 2-'b6[M(Sr,) - M(;r#S)] + b8((1 + s')rst)m?+1
where in the last step we assume b,,b1l,and a, sufficientlysmall so that

forthe resultings'. Dividingthe above equationby (rs)m,
28'b7s'-s-m? 2-1b6
we obtain
b6E(ff p, rs)(S,,) < 4b8((1 + 8')t)mrs
and one chooses bl,= 4b8b-'4m.The compactnesspropertiesof g implythat

a0,b9,blo,bl, can be chosen simultaneouslyforall J e g to have the required
properties.
The righthand inequalityof conclusion(1) followsfrom4.8 withE and
2b'12< a(m)/3suitablychosen.
5.10. COROLLARY. Let b,3< ao. Then there exists b,4> O such that,
if 0 < r < b,4,then either
( 1) ~bjjE(7r9O. r)(S )1,2 < h(7rgO. r)(S) < bI2E(7r9
O. r)(S )l12
and
r = b13h(r,0, r)(S)

or
(2) E(w, p, sr)(S) < eE(w, 0, r)(S) + b10rs.
PROOF. Suppose
bl4 > r > bl3h(ir,O. r)(S) > bllbl3E(ir,O. r)(S )1/2.
Then
< s-mE(w, 0, r)(S) < s-b
E(w, p, sr)(S) -2b-2r2 < s-b -2b-22bl4r,
and one choosesb14 mm{r1/2,

- b1bl1b,3sM+1},
6. Second order estimates on J minimal surfaces lying near a disk

In the present chapter the preliminaryestimates of Chapter 5 are
exploitedto obtainthe estimates on the excess E(S) of minimalsurfacesS
lying near a disk. In 6.5 we show that the distributionsassociated with
limits of sequences of J minimalsurfacesin 6.2 are a solutionto an elliptic
system of second order linear partial differential equations. This fact is
combinedwiththe excess estimatesof 4.10 in 6.7 and 6.8 ultimatelyto prove
the estimatesof 6.9. The hypothesisof ellipticity(1.2) is used in an essen-
tial way, both "in the small" (5.4, 5.5, 6.5) and "in the large" (4.10, 6.7, 6.8) in
proving 6.9.
6.1. PROPOSITION. Let 7 = Rmx {0} c Pm(Rm+').
( 1 ) Let S c Dm x R be a compact m rectifiable surface which cannot
be deformed into ADm x R under a lipschitzian deformation leaving
&Dm x R fixed. Then there exists Pe Zm(Dm x R, ADmIx R; Z) such that
IP ?I S and irP I=ID x {0} . In particular,
M(;c(l S I- I P I)) < M(C S I- I P I) < Hm(S) - Hm(uS)

(2 ) Let T C Zm(Dmx R, &Dmx R, G). Then there exists Q C Zm(Dm x R,
&Dmx R; Z) such that IQ I < I T I and I roQI = I;r#T
1. In particular,
M(;#(lTI - IQ)) ' M(l T - IQ) ? M(T) - M(;rT).
Without loss of generality we can assume S c Dm x
PROOF. ( 1 )
{h: h > 1}. Let Uc- Dm x R be the pathwise connectedcomponentof (0, 1)
in Rm+l- (S U Dm x {0} U ADnm x R). Then U is bounded and oriented by
Rm+',hence Uc Zm.+(Dmx R, Dtmx R; Z). One sets P =aUn Dom x {h: h > 0}.
(2 ) Withoutloss of generalitywe can assume spt(T) c Dmfn {h: h > 0}.
Then thereis a uniqueA C Zm.+(Dmx R, Dm x R; G) such that AAnDo x R =
T - N T. Then we can determineHmi almostuniquelydisjointm + 1 recti-
fiable sets Al, A2, A3, *** c Rm+loriented by Rm+lsuch that

One sets
B = EZ zAz C Zm+t(Dmx R, Dm x R; Z),
Q= aB n Do x {h: h > O} .
6.2. Sequences of surfaces converging to a disk at 0 and the associated
limiting integral currents and distributions. Let w = Rm x {0} c P.(Rn+k)
for k = 1, n and, for each p = 1, 2, 3, *., let
( 1 ) rp c R with rp > rp+land limi ri = 0.
(2) Jpej.
(3) Sp C Zm(C(7u,O, rp), aC(c, O, rp); G) such that
(a) 1r;Sp I = I Dm(0, rp) x {0}11
(b) hp = h(w, 0, rp)(Sp) with ao < a(m)/3, and
n Rmx D(0, r hp)]) >

M(w4,[Sp rnl(a(m) -
a)
(c) Ep = E(w, 0, rp)(Sp) ? b, and limi E. = 0,
(d ) JP(S) < JP(T) whenever T C Zm(G) with aT = aS,
< hp < b12EP12,and
(e ) b11EPI2
< b 12b/3Ep'2
rp < b1~h_ (see 5.9 and 5.10)
( 4) Y)p:Rm+n Rmn7
(x, y) = (SJ(x, y)) if this is well defined,

= 0 otherwise,
for (x, y) ? Rm+n
(5 ) vp > 0 with limi vi = 0 such that
( a) liMi Ei-1/2Vi =>, ,
(b) limi E"-12 0

One can, for example, take v = Epl3.
(6) Sp(t) = Sp n {q: ;1r,o X o y-1 o Sp(q) I > 0 and ', p(q) I < t}
for each 0 < t < ao.
(7) S0 = I Sp(vp) 1i (see 4.1(4)).
(8) Cp = CJpL -Ljp QP = Qjp, Hp = HiPare the componentsof Jp
with lp(i, k) = lj(i, k), qp(i, j, k, 1) = qj (i, j, k, 1) for i, j 1, *.*, m and
kyl = 1, * n.
(9) q(i, j, k, 1) = limpqp(i, j, k, 1) for each i, j, k, 1.
(10) lp(i, k; a) (a/axa)lp(i,k)(0, 0) for each a, i =, *.., m and each
k= 1, ..,n.
(11) 1(i, k; a) = limpE7-1"2rplp(i,k; a). 6.2(3e) and the compactness prop-
erties guarantee the existence of the limit here and in (9) at least for a
subsequence.

(12) up:Rmln+
R- +, up(x,y) (r-'x, E"-1,2r-'y)forx c Rm,yc Rn.
(13) wrk:Rm+n- Rm+1 w7k(X, y) (X, Yk) for x c Rm, y (y1, ..., y) e R ,
and k =1, , n.
(14) Sp* = S,(,). There seems to be no way to compute an a priori
boundforM(S*).
(15) <Sp> C Vm(Dmx Rn;Z) is definedas follows. Write IS = z IA
as in 2.6(c) whereA1,A2,A3, *** are disjointm rectifiablesets, and note that
each Az admitsan orientationto become an orientedm rectifiableset, also
denotedAz, such that forHm almostall (x, y) c A2,
(dx1 A ... A dxm)XA*(x,y) > 0.
We set <Sr> = zAz.
(16) Spk = ako U for k = 1, ... , n. 4.7(2) implies
M(Sk) < a(m) + E + 6.

(17) <Sk> =rk<S*> for k = 1, * , n. 4.7(2) implies
M(<Sk>) < a(m) + El + 6 .
(18) Tpkc Zm(Dmx R, aDvmx R; G) is chosenas in 6.1 as a Z chain ap-
proximationto Sk fork = 1, ***, n. By 6.1 and (16),
M(Tpk) < M(Sk) < a(m) + Ep + 6 .
(19) Uk C Zm+i(Dm x R, Dm x R; Z) is chosenusing 4.6 so that
DU nDn2
l xR = T k-_-; Tvk
fork = 1, . . ., n. It followsfrom6.2(3b,3e), and 4.6 that, if Ev < ax(m)/9,

then, with E = 2a(m)/9in 4.6(3),
M(Up) < b5M(Tpk)
+ a(m)E7-1"2(hp+ b5Ep12E-(m-l)I/m)
< b5(a(m) + a(m)/9 + 6) + a(m)(b22 + b5(2a(m)/9)-'1-Im)/.
(20) Tk limp Tp C Zm(Dmx R/lDmx R; Z), and
Uk = limp UpkCZm.+(Dm x R/Dtmx R; Z).
These limitsexist at least fora subsequenceby 4.6(3) and the compactness

propertiesof integerchains.
(21) ?Dkis the real valued distribution definedfork = 1, ***, n by
on DOJn
setting
)k(ol) = Uk([0o ? w] A dxl A ... A dXmA dy)
for each class &x function 0ol:DoJn R with compact support in Do . Here we
are regardingtheintegerchain Uk as a linearfunctionalon differentialm+ 1
in
forms,i.e., as an integralcurrentas [FF]. Note that for i = 1, * *,mand

(8@k/aXi)(ofl)=- (8/Xi
=- Uk([(afl/axi) o w] A dx, A ... A dXmA dy)
- Uk((-1)i-1d[olow] AdxiA ... Adxi-1Adxi+?A ... A dXm Ady)
(_)iT k([10 o7] A dxi A ... A dxi-i A dxi+i A .. A dxmA dy).
6.3. LEMMA. Let rp,S0, S*, <S*>, Sk,<Sk>, Tp, p,wcbe as in 6.2 for p=
1,2,3, ... and k=,=**, n. Then
(1) Let xi, * , xm;yi, ..., y; y be orthonormal coordinates for Rm,Rn,
R respectively and q: Rm R be a bounded Baire function. Then for each
p = 1,2,3, ..., each i =, ***,m, and eachk = 1, n,
r- 11SO Il([q O wo
OP].E;*EI2. r)
= 1)M-i<S*>([p ow7]A dxi A ... A dxjj A dxj+1 A ... A dXmA dyk)

- (_1)m-i<S ">([p oW7] A dx, A *.. A dxi-i A dxji A ... A dXmA dy).
(2) lim M(<Sk> - Tk) = O for each k = 1, ... , n.
PROOF. Conclusion (1) follows immediately from the definitionsin 5.1
and 4.1(4). Since for each (x, 0) c Domx {O},
(dxi A ... A dxm)X(7r#Tk)*(x,0) = 1

one can use 4.7(3) to conclude that 6Ep'2 + Ep > Hm{x: x c DoJ4and for some
y c R", Tk*(x,y) c r* exists and (dx1A ... A dXm)XTk*(X7y) < O}. Conclusion
(2) follows from4.7(4).
6.4. THEOREM. Let Tk, l(i, k; a), q(i, j, k,1) be as in 6.2 for i j, a 1, * , m
and k, 1 1, ***,n. Also let o = (0), ***,o ): Do Rn be of class 3 with
sptoc(zc Dom. Then
O = ;,{ l(i, k; a).xa(a0)k/axi)(x)dHmx: a, i = 1, ... , m and k = 1, ... ,n

+ 1{(-)M-iq(i, j, k, 1)Tk([a6g/ax1j) o c] A dxi A
A dxi-i A dxj+1 A .. A dXmA dy):
,7 j = 1, ** m and k, I = 1, ** n}
PROOF. The formula above is the limit of a sequence of formulas arising
from the fact that the Sp in 6.2 are minimizing,and hence have firstvaria-
tion equal to zero with respect to the integrands J, and the deformations
vp: R x Rm+n > Rm+n

v'(t, (x, Y)) = (x, y + t(rPEP12)o(rp-1x))
=v v(t, UP(x7 Y)) ,
where v(t, (x, y)) = (x, y + t0o(x)). As a normalizing factor, we multiplyeach

component of the first variation by (rpmEP)-. In the following we compute

the variouscomponentsof the firstvariations. The theoremthenfollows6.3

in the limit as p -. co.
(a) The constant component of Sp(v,).
(r-mEp)-'Cp(vp(t)#Sp(v..)
- (x, y)), wr)d11SO 11(x, y)

(r-Ep)-l5C,(v(t,
and thus
It==o
(d/dt)(r-mEP)-'C,(vp(t)oSp(Vp))
=(p p)-1 (dldt)Cp(vp(t, (x, y)), 7)djj SI II(x, y)
= (r-EpY)-1O([r E.2t][rp + rpEp42m][rMII) (by 4.9 and 5.2(4))

= O(E-1/2r2) (by 4.9)
< 0(r.) (by 6.2(3e)) .
(b) The linear component of Sp(vr).
(rpnEp)-'Lp(vp(t)4SP(v,))= (rpEp)l 8Elp(i, k)(vp(t,(x, ty)))

[( ) (X , y) + tElI2(acok/9xi)(r-lx)]dll So ll(x, y)
where the above sum is fori ri, ... , fland k = 1, ... , n. Thus
It==o
(d/dt)(r-mEp)-1Lp(vp(t)#Sp(Vp))
= (r-E,)-l' r (d/dt)(lp(i, k)(t, (vp(t, (x, Y)))] j,(p)k(x, y)dflSo fl(x,y)
+ (rmEp)- j1 k)(x, y)Ep'2(acok/&xi)(rplx)dll SI jj(x, y)

lp(i,
= (r-Ep)-1O([rpEp'21[ip1[rf])
+ (rPEP)-'1 tk L0+ L 1 (&/9x.)lp(i, k)(O, O)xa

+ j;1(D/ay8)lp(i,k)(O, O)ye -- 0(4 + (rpE1'2m)2)I
Ep/2(io~k/&xj)(r lx)dl ISo II(x, y)

(by 4.9 and 5.2(4))
p0(V) + r |- 11So I I(Ea,i,k (Ep"2 rp)lp(i, k; a)(r-1xa)(Dok/axi)(r-1x))

+ (rpEp)-10([(rpEp'2m) + (r + (rPEp2m)2)]_[El'2] .[r1])
(by 4.9 and 6.2(3e))
=rp|| SP ||(Ea ik (Ep 1/2rp)lp(i, k; a) *(r-;xa) . (a9ok/Dxi)(r-jx))
+ 0(0p + rp + Ep/2m) (by6.2(3e)) .

(c) The quadratic component of Sp(vp).

(rpmp)-lp~v~t)#p(>p) =(r'OE,,)-' 2-'j qp(i, j, k, I)(vp(t, x, zy))
+(7V)i (X7 y) + tEV11(a(0k/aXi) (r-'x)]

*[Q),)j(X7 y) + tEj',1(a0J'1axj)(rp-'x)]dI I SI Il(x, y,)
where the summation is over i, j = 1, * , m and k, 1 =, ..., n. Thus
It=o
(d/dt)(rp-E,)-'Qp(v,(t)OSp(Vp))
- (r-Ep)-'2-' (E,(dldt)q,(i,, j, k, 1)(vl,(t, (x, y)))It.o
y(~kx )-((p),)(x, y)-djI SO II(x, y)
+ (rE,)-'5Eqp(i, j, k, l)(x, y)(rY),(x, y)E'12(ao)/axj)(r-'x)d SO IJ(x,y)
= (r-Ep)-'O([r,,E,12 ][v'][r-])
+ (r4E,)-, [qp(i, j, k, 1)(0, 0) + O(r. + rpEpI2m)]

*(D )k(x, y). ElI2(8sz/~xj)(r-lx)dll SO JI(x, y)
(by 4.9)
= r- II Sp?J(E qp(i, j, k,g)(0, 0)[Ej )2((p)k(x, y)](aow'/axj)(rx-x))+ O(vv)
(by 6.2(3e)).
(d) The higher order component of Sp(vp).
(r'4E,,)-'H,(vl,(t)#Sp(vp))
-(rEp)-1 5O(1 + trpEp2) 0([ 7p I+ tEp'2]3)d S?
and thus
I,~
(dldt)(rpmEpv)-'H,(v~p(t)#Sp(vp))
= (r4E,) 71([(rpEp) p 13) + (C m '2Ep'2)][r-])
= 0 (Ep-11212
(by 6.2(3e); compare 6.2(5b)).

(e ) Evaluation on Sp -Sp(Vp).
(rpE-)-'J,(v,(t)O(Sp-Sv(vp)))
= (r-EP)- I Sp - Sp(() I (vp(t)'Jp) (see 3.1)
= (r-E')-l I Sp - Sv(v) I (Jp + t(d/dt)(vv(t)#Jv)
I=o + 0(t2))
and hence
(dldt)(rpmE,)-'J,(v,(t)4 (Sp -Sp(vvp))) It=o

=(r-E.)-1 I Sp Sp(2vlX) Ito)
I ((dldt)(vp(t)'J,)
= (rmEp)-1 I S- Sp(l) I (O(Ep'2))
+ (rpnEp)-10(ISp(l) - Sp(p) (EP12[rp+ I *) ])) (by 5.2(4))

= O(E'2 -+ r-mM(S,(1) - _
S,(v,)) + [r-mM(S,(1) Sp(-p))]l/2)
We see this last equalityas follows. First note that
r-mEp> M(Sp) -M(7ro I Sp 1) = ISp II (1

- I7r o X7-1 o, SPH 1)
>-?II
HSP - SPM(1I (1 1-r, Xo-1
o o Sp(.) I) > a Sp- Sp(l)11(1),
wherea is a positiveconstantdependingonlyonlyon m, n, and 1. Thus
arp-nEp- 1II Sp -Sp(l) II1(1) < 1,7
and hence
(rmEp)-11Sp - S (1) II (O(Epl2)) -

O(EP12)
Also observethat
(r-Ep)-'IISp(1) -Sp(vp) ? b12b3r-m

(Epl'2rp) I SA(1) - Sp() (1)
0(r-mM(Sp(1) - Sp(vp))), (by 6.2(3e))
whichhas limit0 as p - o as one can concludeusing 4.7(3), 6.2(3c), and 6.2

(5a). Finallyconsider
r)- I S( _ (1 p) II
(ES12( (I ) ))2
=rp-m11 Sp(l)-SV(L) ) 11(EP-1/2 1)2 ( ) 1)
< [r;- Sp(1)- SP(VQ) I (EP-1I .) .[r-mM(Sp(1)
12)11/2 -Sp(p))1l/2
(by Schwarz's inequality).

We have also
rmEp> M(Sp) - M(z#ISp I)

> II SP(1) - SP(VP) (1 _
-
I# 0 x 0 -l SpS(
o .) )
> b 11Sp(l) - Sp(Vp) II (I p() 12),
whereb is a positiveconstantdependingonlyon m, n, and 1. Thus
b(r-Ep)-' 11Sp(l) -
I(1 y7() 12)< t
and hence
(rpmEp)-'IISp(l)- I (EpI2 *) ) = O([rpmM(Sp(1) -Sp(p)) 1/2)
which has limit 0 as p ao as noted above.
6.5. COROLLARY. Let 9Dk, 1(i, k; a), q(i,j, k, 1) be as in 6.2 for i, j, a = 1,

** , m and k, 1 = 1, ** , n. Then the distribution 9 = (9E', gDn) satisfies * ,
the following system of linear partial differential equations (1 = 1, * **, n).

O = (-1) r Li1 (ij I; i) + Li-, mq(i jj k,1) -azgOk
Thus, by 5.5, 9) is a real analytic function
g (fl, ... If '): DMn >R
PROOF. Let Go (a1, *os):

,
n
Dg, Rn be of class ao with spt Goc Dgh.
In view of 6.2(21),
(a2qk/aXidXj)(@l) = - (agk/aXi)(a0 /aXj)

= ( 1)i+ Tk([(ah01/Xj)? w] A dx, A ... A dxi-l A dxi+lA ... A dXmA dy).
Note also
l (i, I; i) ( ) = I (i, I; i) 0j(O1dHm= l(i, 1; i) -xo(al/axi)(x)dHmx

DMn DMn
and, for a #i
O
0 xaz(a(0'1aXJi(x)dE~mx
Dsn
6.6. LEMMA. We retain the terminology of 6.2, 6.4, 6.5. Let g, h; RM

R" be of class 1, and define g, h: Rn+ Rsn+n a g(x, y) = (xy + g(x)), h(x, y) =
(x, y + h(x)) for x c RM,y c Rn. Let z c Dj, O < s < dist (z, aDjm), and for
each p = 1, 2, 3, ... suppose
Np C Zm(Dm(rpz,rps) x D"(O, 2c7rEpI2m)/aDm(rpz,

rps) x Rn; G)
with
(i) iw#NpI=IDm( rpzrps)x{O}Iforeachp= ,2,3,...,
(ii) lim sup (rMEp)-'[M(NP) - M(7r#Np)] < co.
Let r7),Np*,<Np*>, Nk, <Npk>,T', P=, N#(t),Np be defined as in 6.2 with
N, replacing S, (adding as necessary for clarity). Suppose also
(iii) I limp Tpk' I = I {(xy ): x c DM(z, s), y = hk(X)} Ifor each k = *, n.
Then
limp(rnE,)-'[J,(a-l og o a.),N, -J N]
5Dm(z,r) iiak l(i, k; a)Xa(agk/aXi)(x)dHx

(1)
+ 2' Eij, k, q(i, j, k, l)(agk /xi)(agl/1xj)dH.
+DM~~)Lj ,1qi ,k )akai(g1x~H

-
o go Ua)#NN
lim,(r''E,)-4[M(a-j MNv]
(2)
2Dm(zr)
5~
A
2' 1
k (
(agk/axi)2dHm
h / i)gm
+ Ei j (ahkaXi)(agk /X JdH .
PROOF.Conclusion (1) is a consequence of the following calculations

similar to the proof of 6.4. Note in (b) that, as in 6.3(2),
limpM(<Np > - Tpk) = 0
Conclusion (2) follows by analogous calculations in which J, is replaced by

M -1 as in 5.2(4). Note that qM(i, j, k, 1) = 0 when (i, k) # (j, 1) and
qM(i, k, i, k) = 1, and LM - ?.
(a) The constant component of Nv(vv).
og o - CN ]
(r-Ê,)-'[C,(ul a,)#N,
= (r-E,)-l 5C((x, y + r.Ep12g(r-1x)),w) - Cp((x, y), w)dl NP I(x, y)
= (rmE,)-10([EP12r,][r. + rpEp12m][(srp)m]) (by 5.2(4))

= O(Ep-12r2sm)
= 0(r.) (by 6.2(3e)) .
(b) The linear component of Np(vp).
[Lp((-1 o g o ap)#Np LpNp]

-
r-E
-(r7E )-l lp(i, k)(x, y + rpEp12g(r-1x))
[(p)k(X, y) + Ep12(agk/Dxj)(r-lx)]
-
{
lp(i, k)(x, y). (rA,)(x, y)dlI Np If(x,y)
= (r-Ep)-'5lj k [lp(i,k)(x, y + rpEP12g(r-'x))- lp(i, k)(x, y)]

[(P)i(X, y) + Epg2(agk/axj)(r-lx)]
+ {i k lp(i, k)(x, y)EP12(agk/Ox)(r-lx)dI N? II(x,y)

= (r-AEp)--([rpEp-2][j). EP12][r-sm])
+ (rmEP)-l 5,k [0 A- a lp(i, k; a)xa + J (al,(i, k)/ayp)(O,O)yp
+ Q(r 2)]EP12(agk/9xi)(rj-x)d II Np?II(x, y)

- 0(VP+ EPI2) + O(E1'2 + rp)
+ \i k a [Ep"12rplp(i, k; a)] (rl-'x)(agk/Dxi)(r-'x)dj rm-Np?
j(x, y)
(c) The quadratic component of Nv(vp).

(rmE go - QpNp]
,)-1[Q,(U-'o p),N,
= (rmE,)- 52-1 i,j,k,l qP(i, j, k, l)(x, y + r.E I2g(rx))
*[(C)(x, 'y)+ Epl2(Dgk /xi)(rp x)] *[(ry) 1(x, y) + Epl2(Dgj/Dxj)(r 1x)]

- Ei j k I qp(i, j, k, I)(x, y)-(rP)S(x, y).(r,)j(x, y)d|| Np ||(x, y)
= (rnEp)- 12-1i:jkI [q,(i, j, k,l) (x, y + rpEp"2g(r-lx)) -
qp(i,j, k, l)(x, y)]
[L(p)i(X, y) + EpI2(agk/Dxi)(r lx)]
*L[(71)1(x,y) + E,12(gl1/xj)(r -lx)]dl Np IJ(x,y)

? (rmEr)-l '~i j kpl qP(i, j, k, I)(x, y)('p(x, y)E'2 IIN\ II(x, y)
1g'/&xj))d
? j1 j,ksl)(x,
(rmEr)-l\ 2-1:i y)Ep(agk/aXi) (rp1x)(ag11axj)(r- x)
kqr,(ii,
dlINPI I(x, y)
+Er E2]Lr
=(r;L~Er)-1O(LrrEiV2][L. sm]) ? <NP>(EijkI qp(i, j, k, l)(rrx)
*Q(gl/axj)(x) A dx, A ...
* A dxi1 A dy A dxj+, A ... A dxm)
+ rp-m1 Np 11(2-1 iqp(iSj,k,I)(xy)(agk/Xi)(rp-lx)*(agllaxj)(r-lx)).
(d) The higher order component of N,(vr).
(r-Er)-'[Hr(a;-1ogoap))Nr(vp) - HrNr(vr)]
- + Ei1'2]3)+ O(>4El2)d
(rpmEr)15SO(LrrEpI2][LV ( IN
- O(EJ-y12V2
+ rrEr).
(e) Evaluation on Np - Np(v)r).
(rmEp)-1[Jp(-1o go ap)#(Np - Np(i)p)) - Jp(Np - Np(2)P))]

-
(rmEp)-1 Nr - Nr( )r) ((ap g a) J1,- Jr)
- (rEp)-1 Nr - Nr() I(O(EpI2))
+ (r-Er)-1O( NP(1) - Np()P) I(EP1i2[rr+ 1)7'(.) ]))
- O(EP/2 + rp-mM(Nr(l) - Nr(vr)) + [r-mM(Nr(l) - Nr(v,))]1I2)
which has limit 0 as p o. Compare with Section (e) of the proof of 6.4.
6.7. Definitions and notation. ( 1 ) Let f: D - Rnbe the real analytic
function of 6.5 corresponding to the distribution @P. Let f: Rm+n R-+n,
f(x, y) = (x, y + f(x)) for x e Rm,y e Rn.
(2) Let zeDjm(O, 1) andlet e:DjmR", e(x) = f(x)-f(z) -Df(z,x -z)
forx Rm. Let e Rm+n Rm+n e (x, y + e(x)) for x e RM y GeR-.
(3 ) For each p = 1, 2, 3, * , let Rr.= (uv-1of-1oup)#Sr where a, and Sr
are as in 6.2.
( 4 ) For z e DJm(O,1) as in (2), 0 < s < 10- dist(z, aDm), and almost all t,
4s < t < 5s, set

Sp(rpz,rpt) = s, n cr, rpz, r t)

RP(rpz,rpt) = Rp n c(7, r z, r t) .
One then constructs
Pp(rpz,rpt)GZm(C(Wr,rpz, rpt),aC(wc,rpz, rpt); G)
rpz, 10rps) - CQ(7c,
Q(rpz, rpt) e Z.q(C(7r, rpz, rpt),
aD-(rpz, 10rps) x {0} U aC(wc,rpz,rpt); G)
in accordance with 4.10(1) and 4.10(2) respectively (using the obvious trans-
lations and homothetic transformations),such that
aPp(rpz, rpt) - aRp(rpz,r t)
aQp(rpz,rpt) = aD-(rpz, 10rps) x {0} - aRp(rpz,rpt) .
6.8. LEMMA. Let f, Pp. Qp, Rp, SP, r, s, t, z be as in 6.7, and assume
limpEp-'rp = 0.
( 1 ) For each t, the Sp(rpz, rpt)[resp. the Rp(rpz,rpt)]satisfy the hypoth-
eses (i), (ii), (iii) of 6.6 if one chooses h so that h = f on Dm(z,t)[resp. chooses
h -0].
( 2 ) One can choose tp,4s < tp < 5s, for p = 1, 2, 3, so that for Xp=
Pp, Qp, or Rp,
(a) limp(r-Ep)-1[M(Xp(rpz,rptp))- M(7Xp(rpz, rt))] 0
O
(b) limp(r-Ep)-1[Jp(Xp(rpz, r tp)) Jp((wXp(rpz,
- rptp))] 0.
(3) f
If-Y' IdH. < nb5(a(m) + 6) for some y0CRn
Dmn(0,1)
(4) There exists c, < depending only on SF and the numbers b7 and
b5above such that for each x e Dtm(0,7/8),
|(Ofk/Dx.)(x) I < c9 I (D f /Dxox )(x) I < c

for each i, j = 1, ***, m and each k = 1, **,n.
limp(rmEp-1[M((o1 o e o f- o ap)4sp(rpz,rps)) - M(w#Sp(rpz,
rps))]
(5) liDm(zs) Iik[(afk /xj)(x) - (Dfk/DXi)(z)]2dHmx

< smaf(m)mnG(c~s)'
mnc'a(m)s-+2 whenever Iz I + s < 7/8.

PROOF.( 1 ) It follows immediately from the definitionsin 6.2 and 6.5
that the SP(rpz,rpt) satisfy hypotheses (i), (ii), (iii) of 6.6 if one chooses h so
that h I Dm(z, t) = f I Dm(z, t). From 5.8(1) we know, for large enough p,
[Jp(Sp(rpz,rpt)) - Jp(; I Sp(rpz, rpt) 1)]
+ [JP(;f#Sp(rpz, rpt) )- Jp(w#Sp(rpz,rpt))]
) b7[M(SPX0z, rpt)) - M(r I Sp(rpz,rpt))]
I Sp(rpz, rpt) )
b7[M(1r# - M(;c0Sp(rpz,rpt))] + 2b8rp+'

since, in 5.8, b7> sup {J(0, w)-1:JG Af}and

b8> 6a(m) sup {Lip J(., a) I Dm-+"(O,r'): J E g and a cE }.
It is immediate from the definitionsthat the R,(rpz, rpt) satisfy hypoth-
eses of (i) and (iii) of 6.6. 6.6(2)(taking Sp(rpz,rpt) as Np, f as h, and -f as
g) implies that the RP(rpz,rpt) also satisfy hypothesis (ii) of 6.6.
(2) One choses the tp as in 4.2 (making use of the obvious translations
and homothetic transformations involving a factor of s). Conclusions (2a)
with Xp = Pp, Qp are implied by 4.10 (recalling that up incorporates an ex-
pansion in the Rn plane by a factor of E7-1"2, one sees that the L convergence
of the f l'Tk to Dm x {0} is sufficientto satisfy the hypothesis in 4.10 regard-
ing the amount of surface which must lie close to Dm x {0} relative to distance
Ep'2 in the RX direction). We know from 5.8 that
[Jp(Pp(rpz,rptp)) - p(7r I Pp(rpz,rptp)I)] + [Jp(;S I RP(rpz,rptp)I)
- JP(7r;Pp(rpz,
rptp))]
< b4M(Pp(rpz, rptp)) -
M(7o IPp(rpz,rptp) )J
+ bj[M(;#IPp(rpz,rptp)I)-M(r#Pp(rpz, rptp))] + 2b8rM(PP(rpz,rptp))
since b7> sup {J(0, i)-`: J c g}. Conclusion (2b) with Xp = Pp follows, and a
similar argument yields (2b) with Xp = Qp.
One now observes the surface
S - S(r z r tp) + (a-1 o f o a )#P(rpz r t )

has the same boundary as Sp. The fact that Sp minimizes Jpwith respect to
aSp together with 6.6 (taking g = f on Dm(z, tp) and h -0) implies (2b) with
P R. Conclusion (2a) with Xp Rp follows from (2a) with Xp Qp and
5.8(2) applied to the surfaces Qp(rpz,rptp)+ Sp(rpz, rptp).
( 3 ) By 4.6 there exists yk c R and Uj, E Zm+,(Dm x R, Dmx R; Z) such that
uOkn Do x R = Tk - k Tk and M(Uo) < bM(T ) < b,(a(m) + 6), where
7wk(x,r) = (x,y?). Hence If k- y[ M(Uok)< b,(a(m) + 6) and Iff- y I <
nb5(a(m) + 6). Conclusion (4) follows from5.5, the compactness properties of
g providing the necessary uniform bounds on the q(i, j, k, t). The l(i, k; a)
are all 0 since limpE;-'rp = 0 (6.2(11)).
Conclusion (5) follows from (2a) with Xp = Rp, (4), and 6.6(2) with h 0
and g = e.
6.9. THEOREM. For each s > 0 there exist numbers ao > 0, b15> 0, blo< oo,
b17< cc, and 0 < s < 1/32 (depending only on s and A) with the following
properties. Suppose
(i ) zcDm(0, 3/4);

(ii) 0 < r < b15;

(iii) S E Zm(Dm(O,r) x Rn, aDt(O, r) x R"; G) minimizessomeJ E g with
respect to AS;
(iv) E = E(Rm x {O},0, r)(S) < b15;
(v) M([Rm {O}xjjS
X n Rmx D"(O,rh(Rmx {O},0, r)(S))]) > rm(a(m) - ).
Then there exists a function g: R-+"+ Rm"Hof the form
g(x, y) = (x, y + y0 + lo(x - rz))

for x E Rm,y E Rn where y0E R, Iyo < b16rE"2,and lo:RmRn is linear with
o I < b16El2such that
E(Rm x {O}, rz, rs)(g-'S n Dm(rz, rs) x Rn) <sE + bl7rs.
PROOF. Care must be exercised at this point in the order in which con-
stants are chosen. First notice that the results of Chapter 6 which depend on
the sequence of surfaces in 6.2 are valid for each fixed choice of 60,b11,b12,b13
in 6.2(3e), and that the particular choice of these constants does not affect
the choice of c9 in 6.8(4)(recall that b5and b7 are selected in 4.6 and 5.8 inde-
pendent of the constants of 5.9). We are given s > 0 in the hypothesisof the
theorem. We now choose and fix 0 < s < 1/32 so that
( *) < ea
2mncla(m)sm-+2 (compare6.8(5)) .
For this fixed s and s, we now choose and fixthe numbers 60,b9, b1o,b1l,b12in 5.9
in 5.10. We also choose and fix b16> mnc, large enough so that for
and b13,bl,
any sequence of surfaces of the type in 6.2 with limpE7lr, = 0, and resulting
analytic functionf as in 6.5, and any point z e Dm-(O,
3/4),f(z) <b1ip This
choice is possibly by (v) above, 6.8(4), and 6.2(19,20). We restrict b17> b1j
and b15< b14and see from 5.10 that either 5.10(2) holds which implies the
conclusion of this theorem or 5.10(1) holds. We assert that it is possible to
choose constants b15> 0 and b17< oo in order to make this theorem true. If it
is not possible to choose such constants then there exist a decreasing
sequence {(b15),},and an increasing sequence {(b17)0}1 of positive numbers with
lim,(b15),= 0 and lim,(b17)l =o and a sequence {Sp}, of surfaces with each Sp
satisfying the hypotheses of this theorem with respect to (b15),and 60,b11,b12,
b13as chosen above, such that the conclusion of this theorem is false for each
SP with respect to b16and (b17)p. Such a sequence {SP}P, in particular, satisfies
as chosen above since limp(b,5)p 0.
all the conditions of 6.2(3) with 60,b1jb12,bl3
6.6(2) implies limpEp-1rp= 0 since limp(b17)p= which implies the hypothesis
of 6.8. However, 6.8(5) together with (*) above show that the conclusion of
this theorem is true for Sp with p sufficientlylarge (recall that up in 6.2(12)
incorporates an expansion of the RI coordinates by a factor of EP-112). One

can thus choose the constants b15and b17in order to make this theorem true.
7. Regularity of F minimal surfaces lying near a disk

In this chapter we exploit 6.9 inductively in conjunction with 4.9 to con-
clude the H6lder continuityof interiorfirstderivatives of F minimal surfaces
lying near a disk. Higher differentiabilitythen follows as noted in 5.6.
7.1. LEMMA. There exists b18< ao with the following property. Suppose
S c Zm(C(1, 0, 3), DC(w,0, 3); G) satisfies the following conditions:
(i ) 17#SI = Dm(O,
I 3) x{O} ,
(ii) E(7r,0, 3)(S) <bg,
(iii) M(;L[S n Rm x {y: y
y I < 3h(7w,0, 3)(S)}]) > 3m(a(m) - 63) (see 4.5(5)
and 5.9)
where we have written wJ= Rm x {O}. Then there exists T e Zm(C(1, 0, 4),
aDm(O,4) x {O}; G) such that
(1) TnC(w,0,2) = SnC(1,0,2),
(2 ) E(7w,0, 4)(T) < b18E(wr,0, 3)(S)
PROOF. One chooses 2 < r < 3 in accordance with 4.2 (taking p = 3 and
h=3h(wc, 0, 3)(S), and notes that h < 3b12E(wr, 0, 3)(S)"2 where b,2is as in 5.9.
T n C(, 0, 4) - CJ(w,0, r) is constructed in the manner of the surface S2 in
4.10(2). b18can be computed fromthe estimates of Part 4 of the proof of 4.10.
7.2. LEMMA. (1) (a) For each Fe T andy e R",I1F(RnX {y}>)RX M{y}.
(b) For each Fe IT, 9F IR1 x {0} is theidentityon R1?x {O},DAF(O)=
D*'4(O) is the identity on Rm+ .
(c) There exists El > 0 so that if 0 < r < El,x0 e Dm-(O,r/2),
and Fe T,
then
(i) FF(aDD(O, 2r) x Dn(0, slr)) n Dm(O,r) x Rn = 0,
(ii) 1F(XoI 0) e Dm(0, 3r/4) x {0},
(iii) q)F-'(aDm"(xl 4rs) x D"(O, slr)) n Dm(xo,3rs) = 0,
where (x1,0) = 1F(xO, 0). Note here that the choice of el depends on the prior
choice of s (in 7.4).
( 2 ) There exists 82 > 0 and b19< such that whenever 0 < r < 82,
(xl,y1)e Dtm(O, r) x DB(0, e2r),Fe T, l: Rm >Rnwith I 11I <s,, then
? b191lI1 I
I
where 1: Rm- RI is the unique linear map for which
(L-1 o D(qF1')(x1, y1)? Ll)(Rm x {0}) = Rm x {0},
where L(x, y) = (x, y + 1(x)) and L1(x, y) = (x, y + ll(x)).
( 3 ) There exists 83 > 0 and b20< such that whenever 0 < r < 3,
c
S Zm(Din (0, 3r) x Dn(0, 83r)/IDn(0, 3r) x Dn(0, 83r); G) with E (Rmx

{0}, 0, 3r)(S) < 63, Fe XF,then

E(Rm x {0}, 0, r)(oFDS n Dm(O,r) x Rn) < b2oE(Rmx {0},0, 3r)(S) + b20r.
( 4 ) There exists s, > 0 and b21< such that whenever 0 <r<s4, 0<s<
1/32,(x1,y1)e Dm(0, 3r/4) x Dn(0, e4r),Fe T, and 1, 11,L, L1 are as in (2), the
following is true. Suppose T eZ 4(Dm(x1, 5rs) x D" (0,s4r)/DDm(x1,5rs) x
D (0, e4r); G) with E(Rm x {0}, (x1,0), 5rs)(T) < 8, and
y Y
M(wj,[Tn {(x, y): Y-1 < 5rsh(Rm x {0}, (xj, 0), 5rs)(T)}])
> (5rs).(a(m) -
Then
E(Rm x {0}, (xo,0), 3rs)([L' O(D-' o L]#T n Dm(xo,3rs) x R")
< b2lE(Rmx {0},(xj, 0), 5rs)(T) + b21r
where L'(x, y) = (x, y + 1(x) - 1(x1)),L'(x, y) = (x, y + 11(x)- 11(x1)) and

q)F(XO, 0) = (X1, 0). Note, in particular, that 84 and b2l are chosen simul-
taneously for all 0 < s < 1/32.
PROOF. ( 1 ) The conclusions of (1) follow from the definitionsin 5.2 and
5.3 and the compactness properties of F observed in 5.3.
( 2 ) The conclusion of (2) follows from (1)(a) and the compactness prop-
erties of WF.
( 3 ) To prove (3), firstchoose yoe R"I so that
M(;[,[s n {(x, y): Iy - I < 3rh(Rmx {0}, 0, 3r)(S)}]) > (3r)m(a(m) -0),
and, utilizing a translation by (0, yo), choose T as in 7.1 so that
m
TfnDm(O 2r) x R,_Sfl=nDm(O 2r) x R&
E(Rm x {0},0, 4r)(T) < bl8E(Rmx {0}, 0, 3r)(S) .
Now observe that
(IF =VF ?oz o D(1F ? Z)(0)'] ? [D( F ? Z)(0) ? w']
where z denotes translation by (0, y0). The right hand factor is the composi-
tion of translation with a linear map to which we can apply 4.3. The left
hand factor has as its differentialat 0 the identity, and we can thus apply
4.4. The choice of b20is now possible by virtue of (la), (lc)(i), 4.3, 4.4, and
the compactness properties of WF.
( 4 ) Conclusion (4) is proved in essentially the same way as conclusion (3).
7.3. THEOREM. There exist s, s > 0 and c < with the following prop-
erties. Suppose
(i) O<r<,
(ii) xoe Dm(O, r/2),

(iii) S e Zm(Dm(O,3r) x D"(O, sr)/1DXi(O,3r) x D"(O, &r); G) minimizes

F corresponding to some Fe i,
(iv) I (Rm x {0})#SI = IDm(O,3r) x {0} 1,and
(v) E(wr,O, 3r)(S) <s,
where we have set 7 = Rm x {O}. Then there exists a linear map 1: Rm RI'
such that
1 < cE(wr,0, 3r)(S)112+ cr1/2
and
E(wr,(x,,0), 3rs)(L-'S n Dm(x0,3rs) x Rn) < 4-'E(wg0, 3r)(S) + cr.
where L(x, y) = (x, y + 1(x) - 1(xo))for x e R1m, y e Rn.
PROOF. We firstchoose and fix the constants 82 and b19as in 7.2(2), 83 and
b29as in 7.2(3), and s, and b2l as in 7.2(4), observing that the selection of these
constants depends only on iF and the restrictionthat 0 < s < 1/32. We set
60 = (4b20b2l)-l,
and choose and fix constants bi5,b16,bi7,and 0 < s < 1/32 as in
6.9 with se replacing s and 5s replacing s there. Having fixed s, we choose
and fix sl as in 7.2(1). We now set
min {S1, S2, 63, 64, b15,(b16 + 5b,7)-262, 1}
and
c max {sob20b2l, 2, bl6bl9b20
bl6b19b + 5b17b19, ? 5b17? b2}.
60b20b21
s, s, and c above are the constants of this theorem.
We now set
E = E(wr,0, 3r)(S)
S1 =ISF#s nDm(O, r) x Rn,
E- = E(wr,O.r)(Si)I
J = DF#F in Dm+n(O,r1) x Fm with Je gq
and
(X1,0) - 1F(XO, 0) e Dtm(O,3r/4) x {O} .
By 7.3(3), since s < 83,
(a) E1 < b20E+ b20r.
By virture of 6.9 and our choice of s and so there is a linear mapping 11:Rm
Rn with
(b) I11 <? bi8E11'2+ 5bl7rs< S2
such that
(c) E2= E(wc,(xi, 0), 5rs)(T) < soE, + 5b,7rs
where
T = L-'S lnDm(xl, 5rs) x Rn,
L,(x, y) = (x, y + 11(x)- l(x1)) for x e Rm y e R.

Now choose y1c RI so that

n {(x, Y):
M(7WJ[T y- 1 < 5rsh(wc,(x1,0), 5rs)(T)}]) > (5rs)m(a(m) - ),
and let 1: Rm RI be that unique linear map such that
(L-1 o D (q)T1)(x1,y1)o L) )(w) = 1.

It follows from 7.2(2) and (b) that
(d) I <? b19I11 ?< b1gb18Ell2+ 5b19b17rs
and from 7.2(4) that
(e) E(wr,(xo,0), 3rs)(L#-S n Dm(xo,3rs) x R") < b21E2+ b2jr.
The theorem follows from (a), (c), (d), (e) and the choice of c.
7.4. LEMMA. Let 0<c< a,O<r< ao,0<s<1/32, and let E1,E2,E3,.*
be positive numbers such that for each i = 1, 2, 3, * .
E < 4-'E + crsi-'

(1 ) For each k = 1, 2, 3, ..., Ek < 4 k+lE1 + 4k+lbr.
(2) E , cEil'2 + c(rsi-1)"/2 ? bEl/2 + br"/2
where we have set

b = max {4(1 - 1/8)-1c,2(c + C312)(1 _ S112)-1}
(3 ) sup {(rsk1) a
E cEl12 + c(rsi-1)1/2: k 1, 2, 3, ...} <
where2Sa = 1.
7.5. THEOREM. There exists s > 0 such that if
(i ) O < r <&,
(ii) S e Zm(Dm(O,3r) x D"(O, sr)/aDm(O,3r) x D"(O, &r); G) minimizes F,
where F1 is the integrand of 5.3,
I = I Dm(O,3r) x {O}1,and
(iii) I (Rm x {O})#S
(iv) E(Rm x {O} 0, 3r)(S) < e,
then spt (S) n Dm(O,r/2) x R", is the graph of a differentiable function
f: Dm(O,r/2) RI whosefirstderivativessatisfy a Holder conditionwith
exponenta satisfying2sa = 1 wheres is as in 7.4.
PROOF. Let f: Dm(O,r/2) Rn be any functionwhose graph is a subset
-
of spt S n Dm(O,r/2) x Rn We verify the asserted properties of f from re-

peated applications of 7.3. Let s, c be as in 7.3 and denote by s. the constant
s of 7.3. Let b be the constant of 7.4 and c8 the constant of 4.9. 3.2(a)(**)
implies the hypothesis (v) of 4.9. We choose s > 0 of the present theorem to
be the minimnmof the following positive numbers:
(a) 3-2m(1 + b)-1
(b) 3-1(m+ n)-112
(c ) 8m[(1 + b)(3c~s-1+ 3c) + 3c]2m

( d ) (2b)-2
( e ) se[1+ b]-1,
whichwill guaranteethat the hypothesesof 7.3 can repeatedlybe satisfied.
Suppose that S1 = S satisfiesthe hypothesesof the presenttheoremcorre-
spondingto s chosenas above, E1 = E(Rmx {O},0, 3r)(S1),and x, e D..(O, r/2).
Let li: R- RI be the linearmappingwhose existenceis guaranteedby 7.3,
-
and set L1(x,y) = (x, y + t1(x))forx e Rm,y e Rn 4.9, (a), and hypothesis(ii)
imply the existence of y1e D"(O, er) such that
spt S1 n Dm(O,r) x RX c Dm(O,r) x D4(y1, 3c8rEj12-).
Let z-1:Rmn+- Rm+ndenotetranslationby (x1,y1). Then
3rs) x RI c D-m(O,3rs) x D"(O, 3c8rEj1I2m)
z1Z(sptSi) n Dtm(O,
and thus
Lo1 0Z1l(sptS1) n Dtn(O,3rs) x RI
c Dtn(O, + 3rs I 111)
3rs) x D"(O, 3c8rE,12m
c Dn(O, 3rs) x D"(O, sers)
by virtueof (c) and the conclusionfrom7.3 that I1,I < cE,1'2+ crl/2. One sets
S2 - (L1 a ZTSl))SlnDm(O, 3rs) x D4(O, sers)
z
and observesthat S2 minimizesF2 whereF2= (L71 z?')OF1. By virtueof (d),
7.4(2), and the definitionof 2 in 5.3, F2 T2. By virtue of 7.3, 7.4(1), and (e),
E2 = E(Rmnx {O}, 0, 3rs)(S2) ? 4-1E1 + cr < s.. Hypothesis(iii) of 7.3 forS2
is impliedby hypothesis(iii) of this theorem. We have thus verifiedthat
S2 satisfies the hypothesesof 7.3 with rs replacing r. One then sets
X2 =0 D In(O,rs/2),and choosesE2, Y2, 12, L2, Z-2in a mannercorresponding
to
the choice of E1, y1,11,L1,z- above with S2 replacingS1 and rs replacingr.
One sets
S3 (L21? Z-?)0S2n Dm(O,3rs2) x D4(O, esrs2)
-
and checksas above that S3 satisfiesthe hypothesesof 7.3 withrs2replacing

r. One continuesin this mannerto definexi = 0, Ei, yi,1i,Li, z- fori = 3, 4,
5,9. One notes, in particular, that for each i = 3, 4, 5, ...
spt (Si) c Dm(O,3rs'-') x D"(O, 3c7rsi-2E + 3rs'
21/jlm li, 1)
Dm(O, 3rsi-1) x D"(O, rsi-1[3c7s-lEl_2jm+ 3 l )
and that
limi [3c7s-lEjl21,n+ 3 0li ] 0
7.4(2) impliesthe existenceof
1(xj) = 11 with I 1(x1) < bE,'2 + brl"2

and, by virtue of the precedingobservation,Df(x,) exists and equals 1(x1).

One concludes,since x, e Dm(O,r/2) was arbitrary,that f is a differentiable
function. Furthermore, if x1, z1e Dm(O,r) with
rsk < I x,-z, I < rsk'l,
we concludefromthe above, replacingr by rsk-1, that
Df (z) I < 2[bEk'2+ b(rsk-l)112]
IDf (x) -
so that if a satisfies2sa = 1, thenby 7.4(1)

1z, - x1 I Df(xl)
Df(zl) -
< 2(rsk )-[bEkl12 + b(rsk-1)112]

< 2(rsk) [b(4k +E1 + 4-klbr)l1/2 + b(rsk-1)112]
< 2(rsk)-[2-k+lbl2EI1 /2 + 2-k+lbl/2rl12 + b(rsk-1)112]
< (2r-a )2b1/2EJI/2 + 2b112rl"2 + br /2s-1/2]
since sa > 81/2 because 0 < s < 1/32.

The H6ldercontinuitywithexponenta of Df follows.
7.6. THEOREM. Let k > 3 beeithera positiveintegeror o, and let F be
a C'k)integrand[real analytic integrand]whichis elliptic with respect to
G. Then for each s. > 0 thereexists s > 0 with thefollowingproperties:
( 1 ) Let S e Zmn(D(O,2), aD(O, 2); G) minimize F with respect to aS.
Suppose 0: Rm+" Rm+11is orthogonal,z-:R- +-
- R-+" is a translation
througha distanceno morethan 1, 0 < r < e,
0 o Z(sptS) n Dm(O,r) x D"(O, r) c Dm(O,r) x D"(O, er)
M((0 o z)oS n Dm(O,r) x Dn(O,r)) < 8s-lr"m
(for G finite,see 3.2(b)), and
I [R X {O}]*((0 o z)oS n D(O, r) x D"(O, r)) - Dm(O,r) x {O}I,
then spt S n z--1 0o-1(Dm(0, (1 - so)r) x Dn(O,r)) is a (k - 1) timescontinu-
ously differentiable[real analytic] submanifoldof R-+" of dimensionm
which lies as a non-parametric surface over z-ò 0-1(Dm(o, (1 - -so)r) x {O}).
(2) Let S c R-+" be a compactm rectifiableset which is F minimal
with respectto a boundaryB withB n D(O, 2)= 0. Suppose 0: R'+fRm+n
is orthogonal,z: R" +" R"+" is a translation througha distanceno more
than 1, 0 < r < e, and
0 ?Z(s) n Dmn(O,
r) x Dn(O, r) c D-(O, r) x D"(O, esr)
Then S n z--0o o-1(Dn(o, (1 - -so)r) x D"(O, r)) is a (k - 1) times continuously
differentiable[real analytic] submanifoldof Rm+òf dimension m which
lies as a non-parametric surface over z-ò 0-1(Dn(O,(1 - so)r) x {O}).

PROOF. The essential thing to be verified here in order to apply 7.5 is

that
E(Rm x {O}, 0, (1 - o/2)r)( o z)sS n Dm(O, (1 - s/2)r) x D-(0, r))
is small. This follows as a consequence of 3.2(b), 4.2, 4.10, 5.8, the ellipticity
of F, and the minimalityof S (compare the use of the surfaces Pp, Q, in the
proof of 6.8(2a)). The higher differentiabilityof the surfaces follows from
results of Morrey as noted in 5.6.
7.7. Remark. The regularity asserted in Theorems 1.4 and 1.7 follows
from 7.6(2) since we know the existence of the F minimal surfaces as rectifi-
able sets. The conditions of 7.6(2) are satisfied in a neighborhood of each
point in S - B which admits a tangent plane, which in particular is true for
Hm almost all points in S - B.
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
REFERENCES
[Al] F. J., ALMGREN, JR. The homotopy groups of the integral cycle groups, Topology 1
(1962), 257-299.
[A2] , The theory of varifolds. A variational calculus in the large for the k
dimensional area integrand, (mimeographed).
[A3] , Plateau's Problem. An Invitation to Varifold Geometry, W. A. Benjamin,
Inc., 1966.
[D] E. DE GIORGI, Frontiere orientate di misura minima, Sem. di Mat. de Scuola Norm.
Sup. di Pisa, 1960-61, 1-56.
[Fl] H. FEDERER, The (Wo,k) rectifiablesubsets of n space, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 62 (1947),
114-192.
[F2] , Curvature measures, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 93 (1959), 418-491.
[F3] , Some theoremson integral currents, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 117 (1965), 43-67.
[F4] , Geometric Measure Theory (in preparation).
[FF] and W. H. FLEMING, Normal and integral currents, Ann. of Math. 72 (1960),
458-520.
[FL] W. H. FLEMING, Flat chains over a finite coefficientgroup, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc.
121 (1966), 160-186.
[H] L. HORMANDER, Linear Partial Differential Operators, Academic Press, Inc., New York,
1964.
[M] C. B. MORREY, Multiple Integrals in the Calculus of Variations, Springer-Verlag New
York, Inc., 1966.
[Ri] E. R. REIFENBERG, Solution of the Plateau problem for m-dimensional surfaces of
varying topological type, Acta Math. 104 (1960), 1-92.
[R2] , An epiperimetric inequality related to the analyticity of minimal surfaces,
Ann. of Math. 80 (1964), 1-14.
[R3] , On the analyticity of minimal surfaces, Ann. of Math. 80 (1964), 15-21.
(Received July 28, 1967)


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Annals of Mathematics

Existence and Regularity Almost Everywhere of Solutions to Elliptic Variational Problems

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1. A summaryof the principal results

1. A summary of the principal results

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k + 1 (real analytic)]whose partial derivatives up to order k exist and are

F(S) 5 F(x, S(x))dHnx.

( 8) A boundaryB is a compactm - 1 rectifiablesubset of Rm+n[resp.

1.2. Elliptic integrands. Let F be an integrandand xe Rm7"[resp.

[notingthat Im is the fiberin rmMm-+ at x]. SupposeG e G and D is a closed

[resp.x e Mn+m], D c Rm+n is any closedm disk in R-+", a e Hm(Rn+n,aD; G)-

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

integrand, and U ={ U1, U2,U3, * - -} is an open covering of Rm+n

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

Rm+nx jpm, the regularity almost everywhere of S minimizing F can be in-

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not one counts multiplicities in evaluating the integrand. For example, if

2. Some geometric measures and mappings

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This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

singularities. The Hausdorffk dimensional measure of a smooth k dimensional

sending Hk almost all x C S to S(x) E Fk is Hk measurable.

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

with a particular representation of G as a direct sum of cyclic groups. If G

m + n) which triangulatesR-+n. The boundary,aT, of T is definedin the

where {S1, ,S} = Qk n{S: T(S) # O} and g, = T(S,) for i = 1, *., p.

| 1 Vk(Z+) = Vk(Rm+n; Z+) - Vk(Rq; Z+)

R+ < W =W(Rm~n~) W(R)

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Here we assume G e G, B c A c Rm+n1 are Borel sets, and f, g, h: Rm+n1 Rq

defineV A eGVk by requiring(V A 9)(p )= V(9.i/r). One often regards

g: Rmn+n x Pk(Rmn+n) Rq x Pk(Rq)

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for each xeRRm-+and we Pk(Rm+n). This definitionfor g$ preserves the

M(V) = L iHk(Si) < C>0

fx V = If(UiSi) I A z G Vk(Rq; Z +),

Z(y) = Ef(x)=y Z(X)

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

1gCG-[{O gSg + (-g)S(g9,,

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

where (S + T)k is an orientedk rectifiableset constructedas follows. First

U [(Tk U -Tk) - Uy Sg]

Clearly M(S + T) < M(S) + M(T). Setting S -T S + (-T), we have

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

If B ci A are Lipschitzneighborhood retractsin Rm+",thenthe homology

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2.7. Densities. For x e Rm-+and We W we definethe upper k density

limsup and liminfof

If We W+ and 0 < a ? (k(W X) < b < for all x e A c Rm+", then

and Wn A = (Hk nA) A d(Wn A)/d(Hk n A). If A is k rectifiable,then

This content downloaded on Sat, 2 Mar 2013 09:57:34 AM

&([a, b] x S) + ([a, b] x aS) = ({b}, 1)S - ({a}, 1)S

[a, b] x V = (1, 1, Rx)O(H1 n [a, b] x V)

2.9. Deformations onto skeletons of standard cubical cell complexes

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pk(C'): (Ck+l - Dm+n-(k+l)) U C" - Ck U C

by setting for each z e Zm-+n,

noting that s is of class o, and Lip(s) can be assumed to be arbitrarily close

by setting for each x e Rm+I and each i = 1, ** , m + n, [s(C')(x)]i = xi +

Pk(Cf) = S(C') ? pk(C')

Hk(l(m + n - k, )U) = 0. Also, if in (al) S, AS are replaced by integral