A concentration-compactness principle for sequences of Riemannian surfaces. (Q1182844)

Let \(S\) be a compact surface and \((g_ j)\) a sequence of metrics on \(S\), with bounded area and curvature. Supposing the conformal structure of \((S,g_ j)\) be bounded, the author proves that either \((g_ j)\) has a convergent subsequence or there exists a point where a certain amount of positive curvature is concentrated. The level of concentration is computed. This result may be considered as an extension of Schwarz' lemma [see \textit{L. V. Ahlfors}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 43, 359-364 (1938; Zbl 0018.41002)]. The following example is studied. Let \(S=S^ 2\) be endowed with the standard metric \(g_ 0\) and \(g_ j=(F^ j)^*g_ 0\), where \(F\) is the conformal transformation of \(S^ 2\) given by \(F(z)=2z\). The level of concentration of the curvature is \(4\pi\).