Metrics with positive constant curvature and modular differential equations

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the problem when a differential equation y"(z)=Q(z)y(z) is Fuchsian on H* and apparent on H, where Q(z) is a meromorphic modular form of weight 4 on SL(2,Z) and H denotes the complex upper half-plane. Such a problem is closely related to the problem of the existence of a conformal metric with curvature 1/2 on H.

40 pages, accepted for publication on the Cambridge Journal of Mathematics