A note on the second variational formulas of functionals on Riemann surfaces (Q910892)

\textit{F. Maitani} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 24, 49-66 (1984; Zbl 0552.30032)] established second variation formulas for a number of fundamental functionals on a Riemann surface when the surface varies holomorphically. Here, the author presents short, elementary proofs of second variation formulas for two basic functionals: the extremal length of the homology class of a closed curve and a Robin constant at a given point. The author's method, which employs two elementary orthogonal decompositions of the Hilbert space of square integrable abelian differentials and follows the general lines of Maitani's work, actually treats fairly general quasiconformal deformations. The second variation formulas reduce to those of Maitani when the surface varies holomorphically.