Results on the minimization of the Dirichlet functional among semicartesian parametrizations

Abstract

We start to investigate the existence of conformal minimizers for the Dirichlet functional in the setting of the so-called semicartesian parametrizations, adapting to this context some techniques used in solving the classical Plateau's problem. The final goal is to find area minimizing semicartesian parametrizations spanning a Jordan curve obtained as union of two graphs; this problem appeared in the study of the relaxed area functional for maps from the plane to the plane jumping on a line.