Existence and uniqueness for mean field equations on multiply connected domains at the critical parameter (Q2249454)

The authors consider the mean field equation \[ \begin{cases} \Delta u+\rho \frac{e^u}{\int_\Omega e^u}=0 & \text{ in } \Omega\subset \mathbb R^2,\\ u=0 & \text{ on } \partial \Omega. \end{cases} \] It is obtained a necessary and sufficient condition for the solvability of the mean field equation at \(\rho=8\pi\) which is expressed in terms of the Robin's function \(\gamma\) for \(\Omega.\) As a by product of the presented result it is solved a long-standing open problem of the equivalence of canonical and microcanonical ensembles in the Onsager's statistical description of two dimensional turbulence on multiply-connected domains.