Regularity Theory for Mean Curvature Flow (Progress in Nonlinear Differential Equations and Their Applications 57)

Mean curvature flow and related flows are important tools in mathematics and mathematical physics. For example, the famous Penrose conjecture in general relativity by Huisken and Ilmanan was based on a curvature flow approach. Under mean curvature flow, surfaces usually develop singularities in finite time. This book presents techniques in the study of singularities of mean curvature flow. It details the influential work of  K. Brakke as well as such recent developments as relations to regularity theory for minimal surfaces, as in Allard's and de Giorgi's work.

"The central theme [in this book] is the regularity theory for mean curvature flow leading to a clear simplified proof of Brakke's main regularity theorem for this special case.... [The] author gives a detailed account of techniques for the study of singularities and expresses the underlying ideas almost entirely in the language of differential geometry and partial differential equations.... This is a very nice book. The presentations are very clear and direct. Graduate students and researchers in differential geometry and partial differential equations will benefit from this work."

―Mathematical Reviews

"For the last 20 years, the computational and theoretical study and application of generalized motion by mean curvature and more general curvature flows have had enormous impact in diverse areas of pure and applied mathematics. Klaus Ecker's new book provides an attractive, elegant, and largely self-contained introduction to the study of classical mean curvature flow, developing some fundamental ideas from minimal surface theory...all with the aim of proving a version of Brakke's regularity theorem and estimating the size of the 'singular set.' In order to limit technicalities, the discussion is basically limited to classical flows up until a first singularity develops. This makes the book very readable and suitable for students and applied mathematicians who want to gain more insight into the subtleties of the subject."

―SIAM Review

"This book offers an introduction to Brakke's reuglarity theory for the mean curvature flow, incorporating many simplifications of the arguments, which have been found during the last decades." ---Monatshefte für Mathematik

"The book...is a short and very readable account on recent results obained about the structure of singularities. [I]t is definitely an intersting purchase if one wants to gain some technical insight in related nonlinear evolution problems such as the harmonic map heat flow or Hamilton's Ricci flow for metrics." ---Mathematical Society