Set-decomposition of normal rectifiable G-chains via an abstract decomposition principle

Abstract: We introduce the notion of set-decomposition of a normal G-flat chain. We show that any normal rectifiable $G$-flat chain admits a decomposition in set-indecomposable sub-chains. This generalizes the decomposition of sets of finite perimeter in their ``measure theoretic'' connected components due to Ambrosio, Caselles, Masnou and Morel. It can also be seen as a variant of the decomposition of integral currents in indecomposable components by Federer.As opposed to previous results, we do not assume that G is boundedly compact. Therefore we cannot rely on the compactness of sequences of chains with uniformly bounded N-norms. We deduce instead the result from a new abstract decomposition principle. As in earlier proofs a central ingredient is the validity of an isoperimetric inequality. We obtain it here using the finiteness of some h-mass to replace integrality.