A free boundary problem associated with the isoperimetric inequality

Abstract

This paper proves a 30 year old conjecture that disks and annuli are the only domains where analytic content - the uniform distance from $\bar{z}$ to analytic functions - achieves its lower bound. This problem is closely related to several well-known free boundary problems, in particular, Serrin's problem about laminar flow of incompressible viscous fluid for multiply-connected domains, and Garabedian's problem on the shape of electrified droplets. Some further ramifications and open questions, including extensions to higher dimensions, are also discussed.