Equality in Suita's conjecture and metrics of constant Gaussian curvature

Abstract

Without using the $L^2$ extension theorem, we provide a new proof of the equality part in Suita's conjecture, which states that for any open Riemann surface admitting a Green's function, the Bergman kernel and the logarithmic capacity coincide at one point if and only if the surface is biholomorphic to a disc possibly less a relatively closed polar set. In comparison with Guan and Zhou's proof, our proof essentially depends on Maitani and Yamaguchi's variation formula for the Bergman kernel, and we explore the harmonicity in such variations. As applications, we characterize the above surface by the constant Gaussian curvature property of the Bergman kernel or metric, and also find the relations with disc quotients. Additionally, we obtain results on planar domains without the Bergman-completeness assumption.