Minimal Smoothings of Area Minimizing Cones

Abstract: In this paper we show that every area minimizing cone C^{n-1} in R^n can be approximated by entirely smooth area minimizing hypersurfaces. This extensively uses hyperbolic unfoldings of such hypersurfaces and the resulting potential theory for the Jacobi field operator. Applications include the splitting theorem in scalar curvature geometry saying that any (n-1)-dim. homology class of a compact manifold M^n with positive scalar curvature can be represented by a smooth (!) compact hypersurface that admits a positive scalar curvature metric.