Sequences of metrics on compact Riemann surfaces (Q1320642)

This paper resolves an interesting question about compact Riemann surfaces. The uniformization theorem says that a compact Riemann surface \(S\) of genus \(g \geq 2\) can be identified with \(\Gamma \backslash H\), where \(H\) is the Poincaré upper half plane and \(\Gamma\) is some Fuchsian subgroup of \(SL(2,\mathbb{R})\). There are 3 Hermitian metrics associated to \(S\). The first metric comes from the Poincaré metric on \(H\). There are also metrics coming from embedding the surface in its Jacobian and mapping the surface into projective space. The last metric is called the Bergmann metric. Then one considers a decreasing sequence of co-compact discrete subgroups \(\Gamma_ n\) of \(SL(2,\mathbb{R})\), with intersection \(\{I\}\). Assuming for example that the \(n\)th group is normal in the first for all \(n\) and that the action of the first on \(H\) is fixed point free, it is proved that the sequence of Bergmann metrics on the fundamental domains \(H/ \Gamma_ n\) approaches a constant multiple of the Poincaré metric on \(H\). This solves a problem arising in \textit{D. Mumford}'s book ``Curves and their Jacobians'' (1975; Zbl 0316.14010). The techniques used are what might be called the pre-Selberg trace formula. This is a result in the spectral theory of the Laplace operator on the fundamental domains. Taking limits of such results requires a delicate analysis. The same result is also proved for the metric associated to embedding \(S\) in its Jacobian.