On 1-Harmonic Functions

Abstract

Characterizations of entire subsolutions for the 1-harmonic equation of a constant 1-tension field are given with applications in geometry via transformation group theory. In particular, we prove that every level hypersurface of such a subsolution is calibrated and hence is area-minimizing over R; and every 7-dimensional SO(2) × SO(6)-invariant absolutely area-minimizing integral current in R8 is real analytic. The assumption on the SO(2) × SO(6)-invariance cannot be removed, due to the first counter-example in R8, proved by Bombieri, De Girogi and Giusti.