Harmonic maps between ideal 2-dimensional simplicial complexes

Abstract

We prove existence and regularity results for energy minimizing maps between ideal hyperbolic 2-dimensional simplicial complexes. The spaces in question were introduced by Charitos-Papadopoulos, who describe their Teichmüller spaces and some compactifications. This work is a first step in introducing harmonic map theory into the Teichmüller theory of these spaces.

27 pages, 7 figures