Bounds on spherical derivatives for maps into regions with symmetries (Q2565381)

Let \(\lambda_\Omega(w)|dw|\) denote the hyperbolic metric on a hyperbolic region \(\Omega\) on the Riemann sphere \(S\); that is, \(S\setminus \Omega\) contains at least three points. The spherical density \(\Sigma(w)= (1+|w|^2) \lambda_\Omega (w)/2\) is the quotient of the hyperbolic metric and the spherical metric \(2|dw|/(1+|w|^2)\). Since the smooth, positive function \(\Sigma(w)\) approaches \(\infty\) at each boundary point of \(\Omega\), it attains a minimum value in \(\Omega\). For regions with sufficient symmetry the authors are able to determine the minimum points of \(\Sigma(w)\) explicitly. The location of the minimum points is determined by using monotonicity properties for the spherical density obtained by the authors. Among the interesting results obtained by the authors we cite the following: If \(\Omega\) is the complement on \(S\) of the \(n\)-th roots of unity \((n\geq 3)\), then \(\Sigma_\Omega(w)\) uniquely attains its minimum value at 0 and \(\infty\). If \(\Omega=S\setminus \{0,1,\infty\}\), then the unique minimum point is \(-1\). If \(\Omega\) is the complement on \(S\) of the vertices of a regular inscribed tetrahedron, cube, or octahedron, then the spherical density attains its minimum value at the vertices of the inscribed dual polyhedron. In addition, the minimum value of the spherical density is explicitly given in all of these cases. The authors' method does not seem to the cover the case of an inscribed dodecahedron or an icosahedron; they plan to treat these cases in a future paper.