Remarks on the set of poles on a pointed complete surface (Q449620)

This paper simplifies a theorem of Tanaka about surfaces of revolution. A \textit{pole} in a surface of revolution is a point which has no conjugate points along any of its geodesics. A \textit{von Mangoldt surface} is a complete surface of revolution with a fixed point of the revolution so that the Gauss curvature decreases with distance from the fixed point. Tanaka's theorem says that every point of distance less than \(r\) from the fixed point of a von Mangoldt surface is a pole just when some explicit integral condition on the lengths of circles around the fixed point is satisfied.