On conformal deformation of nonpositive curvature on noncompact surfaces (Q1320596)

Let \((X,g)\) be a 2-dimensional Riemannian manifold and let \(K\) be a given function on \(X\). The question of conformal deformation of Gaussian curvature is to find a conformal metric of the form \(g_ 1 = e^ u g\) such that \(K\) is the Gaussian curvature of \(g_ 1\). This is equivalent to the problem of solving the elliptic partial differential equation (P.D.E.) \(\Delta u - 2k + 2Ke^ u = 0\) on \((X,g)\) where \(\Delta\) and \(K\) are the Laplacian and the Gaussian curvature on \((X,g)\). The authors study the conformal deformation of nonpositive Gaussian curvature on a noncompact Riemannian surface without any topological restrictions. The known upper bound estimates on \(K\) by negative constants are replaced by a very weak negativeness condition. It is described precisely how fast \(K\) can grow to \(-\infty\) while still insuring that the above P.D.E. has a solution \(u\) such that \(e^ u g\) is a (complete) conformal metric on \((X,g)\) with Gaussian curvature \(K\). The existence results are complemented by surprising nonexistence results.