Maximum of the fourth diameter in the family of continua with prescribed capacity
G. V. Kuz'mina
Abstract:
We obtain a complete solution of the problem of the maximum of the fourth diameter
$$
d_4(E)=\biggl\{\max_{z_k,z_r\in E}\prod_{1\leqslant k\leqslant l\leqslant4}|z_k-z_l|\biggr\}^{1/6}
$$
in the family of continua with capacity 1. Let
$E(0,e^{i\alpha},e^{-i\alpha})$,
$0<\alpha<\pi/2$, be a continuum of minimum capacity containing the points
$0$,
$e^{i\alpha}$,
$e^{-i\alpha}$; $H(\alpha)=\operatorname{cap}E(0,e^{i\alpha},e^{-i\alpha})$. Let
$c(\alpha)$ be the common point of three analytic arcs which form
$E(0,e^{i\alpha},e^{-i\alpha})$. One shows that the indicated maximum is realized by the continuum $\mathscr E=\{z:H(\alpha_0)z^2\in E(0,e^{i\alpha},e^{-i\alpha})\}$ where
$\alpha_0$,
$0<\alpha_0<\pi/2$, is a solution of the equation
$c(\alpha)=\frac13\cos\alpha$. Any other extremal continuum of the gives problem is an image of
$\mathscr E$ under the mapping
$z\to e^{i\gamma}z+C$ (
$\gamma$ is a real and
$C$ is a complex constant). One finds the value of the required maximum. The paper contains a brief exposition of the proof of this result.
UDC:
517.54