Home > Library > MSRI Preprints > 1997 > Preprint 1997-099 > Abstract

Abstract for MSRI Preprint 1997-099

Embedded minimal ends asymptotic to the helicoid

John McCuan and David Hoffman

The ends of a complete embedded minimal surface of finite total curvature are well understood (every such end is asymptotic to a catenoid or to a plane). We give a similar characterization for a large class of ends of infinite total curvature, showing that each such end is asymptotic to a helicoid. The result applies, in particular, to the genus one helicoid and implies that it is embedded outside of a compact set in ${\mathbb R}^3$.