The Geometry of Complex Domains

This highly original book examines a rich tapestry of themes and concepts, including complex geometry, Finsler metrics, Bergman and Kahler geometry, curvatures, differential invariants, boundary asymptotics of geometries, group actions, and moduli spaces. The geometry of complex domains is a subject with roots extending back more than a century, to the uniformization theorem of Poincaré and Koebe and the resulting proof of existence of canonical metrics for hyperbolic Riemann surfaces. In modern times, developments in several complex variables by Bergman, Hörmander, Andreotti-Vesentini, Kohn, Fefferman, and others have opened up new possibilities for the unification of complex function theory and complex geometry. In particular, geometry can be used to study biholomorphic mappings in remarkable ways. This book presents a complete picture of these developments. Beginning with the one-variable case—background information which cannot be found elsewhere in one place—the book presents a complete picture of the symmetries of domains from the point of view of holomorphic mappings. It describes all the relevant techniques, from differential geometry to Lie groups to partial differential equations to harmonic analysis. Specific concepts addressed include: covering spaces and uniformization; Bergman geometry; automorphism groups; invariant metrics; the scaling method. All modern results are accompanied by detailed proofs, and many illustrative examples and figures appear throughout. Written by three leading experts in the field, The Geometry of Complex Domains is the first book to provide systematic treatment of recent developments in the subject of the geometry of complex domains and automorphism groups of domains. A unique and definitive work in this subject area, it will be a valuable resource for graduate students and a useful reference for researchers inthe field. This work examines a rich tapestry of themes and concepts that provides a comprehensive treatment of an important area of mathematics, while simultaneously covering a broader area of the geometry of domains in complex space. At once authoritative and accessible, this text touches upon many important parts of modern mathematics: complex geometry, Finsler metrics, Bergman and Kahler geometry, curvatures, differential invariants, boundary asymptotics of geometries, group actions, and moduli spaces.This text can serve as a "coming of age" book for a graduate student who has completed at least one semester or more of complex analysis, and will be most welcomed by analysts and geometers engaged in current research.