Remarks on the Alexander-Wermer Theorem for Curves

Abstract

We give a new proof of the Alexander-Wermer Theorem that characterizes the oriented curves in C^n which bound positive holomorphic chains, in terms of the linking numbers of the curve with algebraic cycles in the complement. In fact, we establish a slightly stronger version which applies to a wider class of boundary 1-cycles. Arguments here are based on the Hahn-Banach Theorem and some geometric measure theory. Several ingredients in the original proof have been eliminated.