Invariants of the harmonic conformal class of an asymptotically flat manifold (Q432566)

Invariants of conformal classes of metrics on compact or complete manifolds are widely studied. In this paper, (part of the author's doctoral thesis [Mass estimates, conformal techniques, and singularities in general relativity. Durham: Duke University (PhD thesis) (2010; \url{http://hdl.handle.net/10161/2284})]), the discussion specializes to harmonic conformal classes (i.e., the conformal factor is a harmonic function) of asymptotically flat Riemannian manifolds with compact, nonempty boundary, which are more adapted to certain problems in general relativity. The sign of the scalar curvature of any metric in such a class stays constant. The author introduces a number of numerical invariants of such conformal classes, studies their properties and shows their interplay with constrained geometric optimization problems, more specifically, two numerical invariants of a harmonic conformal class built out of the ADM-mass, with the aid of which he expresses the supremum of the ADM-mass of the metrics in this class (which he calls ``mass profile function''). He then introduces an ``area profile function'' for the computation of which he enlarges the definition of harmonic conformal class allowing metrics with weaker boundary regularity. The paper ends with an example and with a list of conjectures together with possible applications. It is technical, but the computations are clearly explained.