On extrinsic symmetric spaces with zero mean curvature in Minkowski space-time

For an extrinsic symmetric space M in Minkowski space-time, we prove that if M is spacelike with zero mean curvature, then it is totally geodesic and if M is timelike with zero mean curvature, then it is totally geodesic or it is a flat hypersurface.     

Forced convex mean curvature flow in Euclidean spaces

We show the mean curvature flow of convex hypersurfaces in Euclidean spaces with a general forcing term may shrink to a point in finite time if the forcing term is small, or exist for all times and expand to infinity if the forcing term is large enough. The flow can converge to a round sphere in special cases. Long time existence and convergence of the normalization of the flow are studied.     

Translating solitons of mean curvature flow of noncompact spacelike hypersurfaces in Minkowski space

In this paper, we study the existence, uniqueness and asymptotic behavior of rotationally symmetric translating solitons of the mean curvature flow in Minkowski space. We also study the asymptotic behavior and the strict convexity of general solitons of such flows.     

The hyperbolic mean curvature flow

We introduce a geometric evolution equation of hyperbolic type, which governs the evolution of a hypersurface moving in the direction of its mean curvature vector. The flow stems from a geometrically natural action containing kinetic and internal energy terms. As the mean curvature of the hypersurface is the main driving factor, we refer to this model as the hyperbolic mean curvature flow (HMCF). The case that the initial velocity field is normal to the hypersurface is of particular interest: this property is preserved during the evolution and gives rise to a comparatively simpler evolution equation. We also consider the case where the manifold can be viewed as a graph over a fixed manifold. Our main results are as follows. First, we derive several balance laws satisfied by the hypersurface during the evolution. Second, we establish that the initial-value problem is locally well-posed in Sobolev spaces; this is achieved by exhibiting a convexity property satisfied by the energy density which is naturally associated with the flow. Third, we provide some criteria ensuring that the flow will blow-up in finite time. Fourth, in the case of graphs, we introduce a concept of weak solutions suitably restricted by an entropy inequality, and we prove that a classical solution is unique in the larger class of entropy solutions. In the special case of one-dimensional graphs, a global-in-time existence result is established.     

The hyperbolic mean curvature flow

We introduce a geometric evolution equation of hyperbolic type, which governs the evolution of a hypersurface moving in the direction of its mean curvature vector. The flow stems from a geometrically natural action containing kinetic and internal energy terms. As the mean curvature of the hypersurface is the main driving factor, we refer to this model as the hyperbolic mean curvature flow (HMCF). The case that the initial velocity field is normal to the hypersurface is of particular interest: this property is preserved during the evolution and gives rise to a comparatively simpler evolution equation. We also consider the case where the manifold can be viewed as a graph over a fixed manifold. Our main results are as follows. First, we derive several balance laws satisfied by the hypersurface during the evolution. Second, we establish that the initial-value problem is locally well-posed in Sobolev spaces; this is achieved by exhibiting a convexity property satisfied by the energy density which is naturally associated with the flow. Third, we provide some criteria ensuring that the flow will blow-up in finite time. Fourth, in the case of graphs, we introduce a concept of weak solutions suitably restricted by an entropy inequality, and we prove that a classical solution is unique in the larger class of entropy solutions. In the special case of one-dimensional graphs, a global-in-time existence result is established.     

A note on the oblique derivative problem for graphical mean curvature flow in Minkowski space

We show that a solution to graphical mean curvature flow with a perpendicular boundary condition over a convex domain in Minkowski space exists for all time. We additionally show that this solution will converge to a hyperplane as t→∞.     

Helicoidal surfaces in Minkowski space with constant mean curvature and constant Gauss curvature

We classify all helicoidal non-degenerate surfaces in Minkowski space with constant mean curvature whose generating curve is a the graph of a polynomial or a Lorentzian circle. In the first case, we prove that the degree of the polynomial is 0 or 1 and that the surface is ruled. If the generating curve is a Lorentzian circle, we prove that the only possibility is that the axis is spacelike and the center of the circle lies on the axis.     

Hyperbolic mean curvature flow

In this paper we introduce the hyperbolic mean curvature flow and prove that the corresponding system of partial differential equations is strictly hyperbolic, and based on this, we show that this flow admits a unique short-time smooth solution and possesses the nonlinear stability defined on the Euclidean space with dimension larger than 4. We derive nonlinear wave equations satisfied by some geometric quantities related to the hyperbolic mean curvature flow. Moreover, we also discuss the relation between the equations for hyperbolic mean curvature flow and the equations for extremal surfaces in the Minkowski space-time.     

Parallel mean curvature surfaces in symmetric spaces

We present a reduction-of-codimension theorem for surfaces with parallel mean curvature in symmetric spaces.     

Gaussian mean curvature flow

In the Euclidean Space \mathbb Rⁿ⁺¹{\mathbb {R}^{n+1}} with a density e^{e\frac12 n m2 |x|2}, (e = ±1){e^{\varepsilon \frac12 n \mu^2 |x|^2},} {(\varepsilon =\pm1}), we consider the flow of a hypersurface driven by its mean curvature associated to this density. We give a detailed account of the evolution of a convex hypersurface under this flow. In particular, when e = -1{ \varepsilon=-1} (Gaussian density), the hypersurface can expand to infinity or contract to a convex hypersurface (not necessarily a sphere) depending on the relation between the bound of its principal curvatures and μ.     

Timelike surfaces with zero mean curvature in Minkowski 4-space

On any timelike surface with zero mean curvature in the four-dimensional Minkowski space we introduce special geometric (canonical) parameters and prove that the Gauss curvature and the normal curvature of the surface satisfy a system of two natural partial differential equations. Conversely, any two solutions to this system determine a unique (up to a motion) timelike surface with zero mean curvature so that the given parameters are canonical. We find all timelike surfaces with zero mean curvature in the class of rotational surfaces of Moore type. These examples give rise to a one-parameter family of solutions to the system of natural partial differential equations describing timelike surfaces with zero mean curvature.     

Topological change in mean convex mean curvature flow

Consider the mean curvature flow of an (n+1)-dimensional compact, mean convex region in Euclidean space (or, if n<7, in a Riemannian manifold). We prove that elements of the mth homotopy group of the complementary region can die only if there is a shrinking S ^k ×R ^n?k singularity for some k≤m. We also prove that for each m with 1≤m≤n, there is a nonempty open set of compact, mean convex regions K in R ⁿ⁺¹ with smooth boundary ?K for which the resulting mean curvature flow has a shrinking S ^m ×R ^n?m singularity.     

Singularities of mean curvature flow

Mean curvature flow and its singularities have been paid attention extensively in recent years. The present article reviews briefly their certain aspects in the author's interests.     

Lorentzian Legendrian mean curvature flow

In this paper we generalize the Legendrian mean curvature flow to Lorentzian geometry. More precisely, we study the case, where the ambient manifold is a Lorentzian Sasaki $\eta $ -Einstein manifold. For Legendrian curves we establish convergence results in Theorems 1.1 and 1.2 and we derive estimates for the Legendrian angle for arbitrary dimensions in Theorem 1.3.