Harmonic branched coverings and uniformization of \(\operatorname{CAT}(k)\) spheres (Q2238196)

In this article, the authors prove that if \(u:\Sigma\rightarrow (S,d)\) is a proper, non-degenerate harmonic map from a Riemann surface \(\Sigma\) to an oriented locally \(\mathrm{CAT}(k)\) surface \((S,d)\), then \(u\) is a branched cover, i.e., the map \(u\) is a covering map away from a discrete subset of the Riemann surface \(\Sigma\). If \(u\) is degree \(1\), then \(u\) is a homeomorphism. Applying this very interesting result, a uniformization theorem is deduced, namely if the \(\mathrm{CAT}(k)\) space \((S,d)\) is homeomorphic to a sphere, then it is conformally equivalent to the standard 2-sphere.