Minimizers of a weighted maximum of the Gauss curvature (Q663454)

Let \(\Sigma\) be an open subset of a Riemann surface \(S\) with smooth boundary and compact closure; assume none of the connected components of \(\Sigma\) is a torus. The authors consider Riemannian metrics \(g=e^{2u}g_0\) which are conformal to the original metric. Fix \(\kappa\in C^\infty(\bar\Sigma)\) with \(\inf_\Sigma\kappa>0\). The authors examine minimizers of the functional \[ E_\infty(u)=\text{ess\;sup}_\Sigma{|K|\over\kappa} \] where \[ K=e^{-2u}(-\Delta_0u+K_0) \] is the new Gauss curvature; an area constraint is imposed and the minimizer shown to exist. The result follows once bubble prevention is ensured.