The Bernstein problem for intrinsic graphs in Heisenberg groups and calibrations

In this paper we deal with some problems concerning minimal hypersurfaces in Carnot-Caratheodory (CC) structures. More precisely we will introduce a general calibration method in this setting and we will study the Bernstein problem for entire regular intrinsic minimal graphs in a meaningful and simpler class of CC spaces, i.e. the Heisenberg group H^n. In particular we will positively answer to the Bernstein problem in the case n=1 and we will provide counterexamples when n>=5

Intrinsic Lipschitz graphs in Heisenberg groups and continuous solutions of a balance equation

In this paper we provide a characterization of intrinsic Lipschitz graphs in the sub-Riemannian Heisenberg groups in terms of their distributional gradients. Moreover, we prove the equivalence of different notions of continuous weak solutions to the equation \phi_y+ [\phi^{2}/2]_t=w, where w is a bounded function depending on \phi

Harnack inequality and regularity for degenerate quasilinear elliptic equations

We prove Harnack inequality and local regularity results for weak solutions of a quasilinear degenerate equation in divergence form under natural growth conditions. The degeneracy is given by a suitable power of a strong $A_\infty$ weight. Regularity results are achieved under minimal assumptions on the coefficients and, as an application, we prove $C^{1,\alpha}$ local estimates for solutions of a degenerate equation in non divergence form

Graphs of bounded variation, existence and local boundedness of non-parametric minimal surfaces in Heisenberg groups

In the setting of the sub-Riemannian Heisenberg group H^n, we introduce and study the classes of t- and intrinsic graphs of bounded variation. For both notions we prove the existence of non-parametric area-minimizing surfaces, i.e., of graphs with the least possible area among those with the same boundary. For minimal graphs we also prove a local boundedness result which is sharp at least in the case of t-graphs in H^1