The purpose of the present paper is the solution of the boundary value problems for minimal surfaces when the boundaries are not, or not entirely-fixed Jordan curves but are free to move on prescribed manifolds. At the same time I shall present modifications and simplifications of my previous solution of the Plateau' and Douglas' problem for fixed boundary curves and prescribed topological structure and incidentally discuss certain features of the problem in order to clarify its relation to the theory of conformal mapping. Though based on previous publications, the paper may, except for some references, be read independently.

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Let Ω⊂ℝ^{$n$}be an arbitrary open set. We characterize the space$W$^{1,1}_{loc}(Ω) using variants of the classical area and coarea formulas. We use these characterizations to obtain a norm approximation and trace theorems for functions in the space$W$^{1,1}(ℝ^{$n$}).

IN 1970 Lawson [22] proved that two embedded closed diffeomorphic minimal surfaces in the unit three-dimensional sphere S3 in lRJ are ambiently isotopic in S3. Lawson proved this theorem by first proving that an embedded orientable closed minimal surface of genus y in a closed orientable Riemannian three-manifold Mwith positive Ricci curvature disconnects M-into two genus-8 handlebodics. A result of Frankel [7] was used to prove this. Lawson then applied a deep result of Waldhauscn [33] that states that decompositions of SJ into two genus-cl handlebodies arc unique up to ambient isotopy. More prcciscly. Waldhauscns uniqucncss thcorcm states that whenever a closed surface of genus y in S separates SJ into handlcbodics, then the embedding of the surface is as simple as possible; in other words, the surface is obtained from a two-sphere Sz c Sby adding handles in an unknotted manner.

The existence of topological solutions for the Chern-Simons equation with two Higgs particles has been proved by Lin, Ponce and Yang [16]. However, both the uniqueness problem and the existence of non-topological solutions have been left open. In this paper, we consider the case of one vortex at origin. Among others, we prove the uniqueness of topological solutions and give a complete study of the radial solutions, in particular, the existence of some non-topological solutions