Uniqueness of Area Minimizing Surfaces for Extreme Curves

Abstract

Let M be a compact, orientable, mean convex 3-manifold with boundary. We show that the set of all simple closed curves in the boundary of M which bound unique area minimizing disks in M is dense in the space of simple closed curves in the boundary of M which are nullhomotopic in M. We also show that the set of all simple closed curves in the boundary of M which bound unique absolutely area minimizing surfaces in M is dense in the space of simple closed curves in the boundary of M which are nullhomologous in M.

14 pages, 3 figures