Min-max theory for networks of constant geodesic curvature

Abstract

We prove that on a closed surface, for any $c>0$, our min-max theory for prescribing mean curvature produces a solution given by a curve of constant geodesic curvature $c$ which is almost embedded, except for finitely many points, at which the solution is a stationary junction with integer density. Moreover, each smooth segment has multiplicity one. The key is a classification of blowups which is new even for $c=0$.

11 pages, minor revision