On conformal metrics of constant positive curvature in the plane

Abstract

We prove three theorems about solutions of $\Delta u + e^{2u} = 0$ in the plane. The first two describe explicitly all concave and quasiconcave solutions. The third theorem says that the diameter of the plane with respect to the metric with line element $e^{u}|dz|$ is at least $4\pi/3$, except for two explicitly described families of solutions u.