Since the foundational work of Lagrange on the differential equation to be satisfied by a minimal surface of the Euclidean space, the theory of minimal submanifolds have undergone considerable developments, involving techniques from related areas, such as the analysis of partial differential equations and complex analysis. On the other hand, the relativity theory has led to the study of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds, which turns out to be the most general framework for the study of minimal submanifolds. However, most of the recent books on the subject still present the theory only in the Riemannian case. For the first time, this textbook provides a self-contained and accessible introduction to the subject in the general setting of pseudo-Riemannian geometry, only assuming from the reader some basic knowledge about manifold theory. Several classical results, such as the Weierstrass representation formula for minimal surfaces, and the minimizing properties of complex submanifolds, are presented in full generality without sacrificing the clarity of exposition. Finally, a number of very recent results on the subject, including the classification of equivariant minimal hypersurfaces in pseudo-Riemannian space forms and the characterization of minimal Lagrangian surfaces in some pseudo-Khler manifolds are given.

The first part of this book provides a self-contained and accessible introduction to the subject in the general setting of pseudo-Riemannian manifolds and their non-degenerate submanifolds, only assuming from the reader some basic knowledge about manifold

The Bernstein problem and the Plateau problem are central topics inthe theory of minimal submanifolds. This important book presents theDouglasOCoRado solution to the Plateau problem, but the main emphasisis on the Bernstein problem and its new developments in variousdirections: the value distribution of the Gauss image of a minimalsurface in Euclidean 3-space, Simons'' work for minimal graphichypersurfaces, and author''s own contributions to Bernstein typetheorems for higher codimension."

The first two chapters of this frequently cited reference provide background material in Riemannian geometry and the theory of submanifolds. Subsequent chapters explore minimal submanifolds, submanifolds with parallel mean curvature vector, conformally flat manifolds, and umbilical manifolds. The final chapter discusses geometric inequalities of submanifolds, results in Morse theory and their applications, and total mean curvature of a submanifold. Suitable for graduate students and mathematicians in the area of classical and modern differential geometries, the treatment is largely self-contained. Problems sets conclude each chapter, and an extensive bibliography provides background for students wishing to conduct further research in this area. This new edition includes the author's corrections.

Contents:Progress in Affine Differential Geometry — Problem List and Continued Bibliography (T Binder & U Simon)On the Classification of Timelike Bonnet Surfaces (W H Chen & H Z Li)Affine Hyperspheres with Constant Affine Sectional Curvature (F Dillen et al.)Geometric Properties of the Curvature Operator (P Gilkey)On a Question of S S Chern Concerning Minimal Hypersurfaces of Spheres (I Hiric( & L Verstraelen)Parallel Pure Spinors on Pseudo-Riemannian Manifolds (I Kath)Twistorial Construction of Spacelike Surfaces in Lorentzian 4-Manifolds (F Leitner)Nirenberg's Problem in 90's (L Ma)A New Proof of the Homogeneity of Isoparametric Hypersurfaces with (g,m) = (6, 1) (R Miyaoka)Harmonic Maps and Negatively Curved Homogeneous Spaces (S Nishikawa)Biharmonic Morphisms Between Riemannian Manifolds (Y L Ou)Intrinsic Properties of Real Hypersurfaces in Complex Space Forms (P J Ryan)On the Nonexistence of Stable Minimal Submanifolds in Positively Pinched Riemannian Manifolds (Y B Shen & H Q Xu)Geodesic Mappings of the Ellipsoid (K Voss)η-Invariants and the Poincaré-Hopf Index Formula (W Zhang)and other papers Readership: Researchers in differential geometry and topology. Keywords:Conference;Proceedings;Berlin (Germany);Beijing (China);Geometry;Topology;Submanifolds X;Differential Geometry;Dedication

In the theory of minimal submanifolds, Bernstein's problem and Plateau's problem are central topics. This important book presents the Douglas-Rado solution to Plateau's problem, but the main emphasis is on Bernstein's problem and its new developments in various directions: the value distribution of the Gauss image of a minimal surface in Euclidean 3-space, Simons' work for minimal graphic hypersurfaces, and the author's own contributions to Bernstein type theorems for higher codimension. The author also introduces some related topics, such as submanifolds with parallel mean curvature, Weierstrass type representation for surfaces of mean curvature 1 in hyperbolic 3-space, and special Lagrangian submanifolds.This new edition contains the author's recent work on the Lawson-Osserman's problem for higher codimension, and on Chern's problem for minimal hypersurfaces in the sphere. Both Chern's problem and Lawson-Osserman's problem are important problems in minimal surface theory which are still unsolved. In addition, some new techniques were developed to address those problems in detail, which are of interest in the field of geometric analysis.

The description for this book, Seminar On Minimal Submanifolds. (AM-103), Volume 103, will be forthcoming.