Global Minimality and Rigidity of the Constraint Map Vortex

Abstract

We consider the minimization problem \[ \min\left\{\int_{B_1}|Du|^2:\ u\in W^{1,2}(B_1;\mathbb R^n),\quad u=x\ \text{on }\partial B_1,\quad |u|\ge a\right\}, \quad 0<a<1. \] Figalli, Guerra, Kim, and Shahgholian proved that the canonical radial vortex is the unique global minimizer for $n\ge 7$, and asked whether the same holds in dimensions \(3\le n \le6\). We answer this question affirmatively, thereby completing the global minimality and rigidity of the constraint map vortex in every dimension \(n\ge3\).

31 pages. Comments are welcome