This monograph (in two volumes) deals with non scalar variational problems arising in geometry, as harmonic mappings between Riemannian manifolds and minimal graphs, and in physics, as stable equilibrium configuations in nonlinear elasticity or for liquid crystals. The presentation is selfcontained and accessible to non specialists. Topics are treated as far as possible in an elementary way, illustrating results with simple examples; in principle, chapters and even sections are readable independently of the general context, so that parts can be easily used for graduate courses. Open questions are often mentioned and the final section of each chapter discusses references to the literature and sometimes supplementary results. Finally, a detailed Table of Contents and an extensive Index are of help to consult this monograph

Deals with non scalar variational problems arising in geometry Selfcontained presentation Accessible to non specialists The two volumes are readable independently Chapters and even sections readable independently of the general context Elementary treatment Illustrated with simple examples Detailed Table of Contents and extensive Index

Autorentext

Mariano Giaquinta is an Italian mathematician mainly known for his contributions to the fields of calculus of variations, regularity theory of partial differential equation. He is currently professor of mathematics at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa [1] [2] and he is the director of De Giorgi center at Pisa. Luca Martinazzi is professor of mathematics at the University of Basel, Switzerland.

Inhalt
Part I: General Measure Theory.- Integer Rectifiable Currents.- Cartesian Maps.- Cartesian Currents in Euclidean Spaces.- Cartesian Currents in Riemannian Manifolds.- Part II: Regular Variational Integrals.- Finite Elasticity and Weak Diffeomorphisms.- The Dirichlet Integral in Sobolev Spaces.- The Dirichlet Energy for Maps into S2.- Regular and Non Regular Integrals.- The Non Parametric Area Functional.