On the structure of the conformal Gaussian curvature equation on \({\mathbb{R}}^ 2\) (Q810275)

The object of investigation of this paper is the semilinear elliptic equation \(\Delta u+Ke^{2u}=0\) in \({\mathbb{R}}^ 2\), where K is a nonpositive function. Such an equation arises in Riemannian geometry. There where known non-existence results given some assumptions on the behavior of K at \(\infty\). This work deals with existence problems. Under fairly general assumptions on K the authors prove the existence of a maximal solution - provided the equation has a (non-maximal) solution. This rather abstract result is then used to study the existence for two quite general types of asymptotic behavior of K at \(\infty\). The consequences are twofold: first an exhaustive classification of the solutions becomes possible for a general class of K's and on the other hand the geometry of the solutions can be understood when K is assumed radially symmetric. Namely in this case - given that K has a certain asymptotic behavior - it can be shown that all solutions are radially symmetric. The proofs are based on comparison arguments using maximum principle.