Celebratio Mathematica — Freedman

Topology in dimension 3

Works connected to G. Peter Scott

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article M. Freedman, J. Hass, and P. Scott: “Least area incompressible surfaces in 3-manifolds,” Invent. Math. 71 : 3 (1983), pp. 609–642. MR 0695910 Zbl 0482.53045

Let \( M \) be a Riemannian manifold and let \( F \) be a closed surface. A map \( f:F\rightarrow M \) is called least area if the area of \( f \) is less than the area of any homotopic map from \( F \) to \( M \). Note that least area maps are always minimal surfaces, but that in general minimal surfaces are not least area as they represent only local stationary points for the area function.

In this paper we shall consider the possible singularities of such immersions. Our results show that the general philosophy is that least area surfaces intersect least, meaning that the intersections and self-intersections of least area immersions are as small as their homotopy classes allow, when measured correctly.

Joel Hass	Related	Volume
Peter Scott	Related	Volume