On the symmetry of blowup solutions to a mean field equation (Q5942601)

The authors study the mean field equation \[ \Delta u+\rho \left({e^u\over \int e^u}-{1\over A}\right)=0 \text{ in }\Sigma \tag{1} \] where \(\Sigma\) is a flat torus and \(A\) is the area of \(\Sigma\). They are mainly interested in the symmetry induced by the presence of concentration. To this end they use the method of moving plane and prove that blow-up solutions often possess certain symmetries. Moreover they construct solutions with \(m\) blow-up points in an annulus domain for \(\rho\) greater than \(8m\pi\). Related studies have been made in \textit{Y. Y. Li} [Commun. Math. Phys. 200, 421-444 (1999; Zbl 0928.35057)] and the second author [Duke Math. J. 104, 501-536 (2000; Zbl 0964.35038)].