The groups of conformal automorphisms in the Hornich metric (Q1920789)

Let \(D\subset \mathbb{C}\) be a simply connected bounded domain and let \(G(D)\) denote the group of conformal automorphism of \(D\). In \(G(D)\) the metric \[ d(f, g)= \sup\{|f(z)- g(z)|: z\in D\}\tag{1} \] can be introduced. Topological properties of the group \(G(D)\) were studied previously by the reviewer, the author and Schmieder in several papers. Here, the author proposes to use instead of (1) another metric \[ d(f, g)= \sum^2_{i= 1} |f(z_i)- g(z_i)|+ \sup_D \{|\arg f'(z)- \arg g'(z)|\},\tag{2} \] where \(z_1\), \(z_2\) are two fixed points of \(D\), and where it is assumed that there exists a conformal mapping \(h\) from \(\mathbb{D}_w\) onto \(D\) with bounded \(|\arg h'(w)|\). The following questions are treated: (i) When is \(G(D)\) a discrete group; (ii) When is \(G(D)\) a topological group; (iii) When is \(G(D)\) a locally compact space? Mostly, necessary and sufficient geometric conditions are given, expressed in terms of the continuity of \(\arg h'\) at the boundary \(\partial \mathbb{D}_w\). For example: If \(\arg h'\) has three points of discontinuity at \(\partial \mathbb{D}_w\), then \(G(D)\) endowed with the metric (2) is locally compact if and only if \(G(D)\) is discrete. The proofs are deep, and several questions remain, for example questions regarding the connectivity of \(G(D)\).