The support of the limit distribution of optimal Riesz energy points on sets of revolution in R3.

Let A be a compact point set in the right half of the xy plane and Γ(A) the set in R³ obtained by rotating A about the y axis. We investigate the support of the limit distribution of minimal energy point charges on Γ(A) that interact according to the Riesz potential 1/r^s, 0<s<1, where r is the Euclidean distance between points. Potential theory yields that this limit distribution coincides with the equilibrium measure on Γ(A) which is supported on the outer boundary of Γ(A). We show that there are sets of revolution Γ(A) such that the support of the equilibrium measure on Γ(A) is not the complete outer boundary, in contrast to the Coulomb case s=1. However, the support of the limit distribution on the set of revolution Γ(R+A) as R goes to infinity is the full outer boundary for certain sets A, in contrast to the logarithmic case (s=0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]