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Conformally Invariant Variational Problems. - SAM

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nalized in an orthonormal basis and the two eigenvalues κ 1 and<br />

κ 2 are called the principal curvatures of the surface at p. The<br />

mean curvature is then given by<br />

H := κ 1 +κ 2<br />

2<br />

and the mean curvature vector is given by<br />

⃗H := H ⃗n = 1 2 tr(g−1 ⃗ I) =<br />

1<br />

2<br />

2∑<br />

g ij ⃗ I(∂xi ,∂ xj ) ,<br />

ij=1<br />

(X.3)<br />

where (x 1 ,x 2 ) are arbitrary local coordinates and (g ij ) ij is the<br />

inverse matrix to (g(∂ xi ,∂ xj )). In particular if (⃗e 1 ,⃗e 2 ) is an orthonormal<br />

basis of T p S, (X.3) becomes<br />

⃗H = ⃗ I(⃗e 1 ,⃗e 2 )+ ⃗ I(⃗e 2 ,⃗e 2 )<br />

. (X.4)<br />

2<br />

The Gauss curvature is given by<br />

( )<br />

det ⃗n·⃗I(∂<br />

xi ,∂ xj )<br />

K := = κ 1 κ 2 . (X.5)<br />

det(g ij )<br />

The Willmore functional of the surface Σ is given by<br />

∫<br />

W(S) = | H| ⃗ 2 dvol g = 1 ∫<br />

|κ 1 +κ 2 | 2 dvol g<br />

4<br />

S<br />

One can rewrite this energy in various ways and get various<br />

interpretations of this energy. Assume first that Σ is closed<br />

(compact without boundary) the Gauss-Bonnet theorem 33 asserts<br />

that the integralof K dvol g is proportionalto a topological<br />

invariant of S : χ(S) the Euler class of S. Precisely one has<br />

∫ ∫<br />

K dvol g = κ 1 κ 2 dvol g = 2π χ(S)<br />

S S<br />

(X.6)<br />

= 4π (1−g(S)) ,<br />

33 See for instance [doC1]<br />

S<br />

104

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