Structure of Metric $1$-currents: approximation by normal currents and representation results

Abstract: We prove the $1$-dimensional flat chain conjecture in any complete and quasiconvex metric space, namely that metric $1$-currents can be approximated in mass by normal $1$-currents. The proof relies on a new Banach space isomorphism theorem, relating metric $1$-currents and their boundaries to the Arens-Eells space. As a by-product, any metric $1$-current in a complete and separable metric space can be represented as the integral superposition of oriented $1$-rectifiable sets, thus dropping a finite dimensionality condition from previous results of Schioppa [Schioppa Adv. Math. 2016, Schioppa J. Funct. Anal. 2016]. The connection between the flat chain conjecture and the representation result is provided by a structure theorem for metric $1$-currents in Banach spaces, showing that any such current can be realised as the restriction to a Borel set of a boundaryless normal $1$-current. This generalizes, to any Banach space, the $1$-dimensional case of a recent result of Alberti-Marchese in Euclidean spaces [Alberti-Marchese 2023]. The argument of Alberti-Marchese requires the strict polyhedral approximation theorem of Federer for normal $1$-currents, which we obtain in Banach spaces.