Smooth minimal-surface realizations of the constructed varifold

Determine whether the stationary integral varifold constructed in Theorem  or a varifold of the same type can arise as a limit of smooth minimal surfaces, including by resolving its multiplicities into distinct sheets and desingularizing its junction circles.

Background

The paper constructs a stationary integral 2-varifold in R3\mathbb{R}^3 contained in a narrow cone and having volume growth at least R2+45ε2R^{2+\frac45\varepsilon^2}. The construction is a locally finite weighted union of flat disks, flat annuli, and catenoidal pieces meeting along circles; the weights are positive integer multiplicities, so the resulting object is generally neither smooth nor parameterizable by a single smooth connected immersed surface.

The authors explicitly leave unresolved whether this singular, multiplicity-bearing varifold—or a similar one—can be obtained as a limit of smooth minimal surfaces. They identify two concrete technical requirements for such a construction: replacing multiplicities by distinct sheets and desingularizing every junction circle. They mention bent saddle towers and existing desingularization methods as possible approaches, but do not establish the result.

References

We do not know whether $V$, or a varifold like it, is a limit of smooth minimal surfaces. A smooth example in the same spirit would require two further steps.

— Height of minimal surfaces: sharp thresholds  (2610.23629 - Colding et al., 16 Oct 2026) in Remark  ("Smooth examples"), Section  ("Stationary varifolds with growth ...")