Let φ∈C^0∩W_{1,2}(Σ,X) where Σ is a compact Riemann surface, X is a compact locally CAT(1) space, and W_{1,2}(Σ,X) is defined as in Korevaar-Schoen. We use the technique of harmonic replacement to prove that either there exists a harmonic map u: Σ → X homotopic to φ or there exists a nontrivial conformal harmonic map v: S^2 → X. To complete the argument, we prove compactness for energy minimizers and a removable singularity theorem for conformal harmonic maps.

In this paper we establish the short-time existence and uniqueness theorem for hyperbolic geometric flow, and prove the nonlinear stability of hyperbolic geometric flow defined on the Euclidean space with dimension larger than 4. Wave equations satisfied by the curvatures are derived. The relations of the hyperbolic geometric flow with the Einstein equations and the Ricci flow are discussed.

The Bieberbach estimate, a pivotal result in the classical theory of univalent functions, states that any injective holomorphic function f on the open unit disc D satisfies |f′′(0)| ≤ 4|f′(0)|. We generalize the Bieberbach estimate by proving a version of the inequality that applies to all injective smooth conformal immersions f : D → Rn, n ≥ 2. The new estimate involves two correction terms. The first one is geometric, coming from the second fundamental form of the image surface f(D). The second term is of a dynamical nature, and involves certain Riemannian quantities associated to conformal attractors. Our results are partly motivated by a conjecture in the theory of embedded minimal surfaces.

We study weakly trapped submanifolds of codimension two in a standard static spacetime. In this setting, we apply some generalized maximum principles in order to investigate the geometry of these trapped submanifolds. For instance, we establish sufficient conditions to guarantee that such a spacelike submanifold must be a hypersurface of the Riemannian base of the ambient spacetime. As a consequence, we prove that there do not exist n-dimensional compact (without boundary) trapped submanifolds immersed in an (n+2)-dimensional standard static spacetime. Such a nonexistence result was originally obtained for stationary spacetimes by Mars and Senovilla [20]. Furthermore, we also investigate parabolic weakly trapped submanifolds immersed in a standard static spacetime.

In this paper, we generalize the Gauduchon metrics on a compact complex manifold and define the _k functions on the space of its hermitian metrics.