What is a minimal surface of finite topology?

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A (necessarily non-compact) surface is said to have finite topology if it is homeomorphic to a compact surface (i.e., has finite genus) with finitely many points removed (i.e., has finitely many ends).

For minimal surfaces, complete examples embedded in $\mathbf{R}^{3}$ include:

  • Genus zero, one end: A plane (finite total curvature) or helicoid (infinite total curvature).

  • Genus zero, two ends: A catenoid.

  • Genus one, three ends: Costa's surface. Generalizations of arbitrary finite genus and with three or more ends are known to exist.

Non-examples include: