Branch point area methods in conformal mapping

The classical estimate of Bieberbach that ?a ₂?≤2 for a given univalent function ?(z)=z+a ₂ z ²+… in the classS leads to the best possible pointwise estimates of the ratio ?"(z)/?'(z) for ?∈S, first obtained by K?be and Bieberbach. For the corresponding class Σ of univalent functions in the exterior disk, Goluzin found in 1943 by variational methods the corresponding best possible pointwise estimates of ?"(z)/?'(z) for ψ∈Σ. It was perhaps surprising that this time, the expressions involve elliptic integrals. Here, we obtain an area-type theorem which has Goluzin's pointwise estimate as a corollary. This shows that Goluzin's estimate, like the K?be-Bieberbach estimate, is firmly rooted in areabased methods. The appearance of elliptic integrals finds a natural explanation: they arise because a certain associated covering surface of the Riemann sphere is a torus.