A fourth order uniformization theorem on some four manifolds with large total \(Q\)-curvature (Q1771036)

Let \((M,g)\) be a four-dimensional Riemannian manifold. The authors define the \(\mathcal Q\)-curvature \(\mathcal Q_ g\) of this manifold by \[ =-\frac {1}{12}\left(\Delta_ gR_ g- R^ 2_ g+3\,| \text{Ric}_ g| ^ 2\right), \] where \(R_ g\) is the scalar curvature of \(g\) [\textit{T. Branson} and \textit{B. Ørsted}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 113, No. 3, 669--682 (1991; Zbl 0762.47019)]. The associated conformally invariant operator \(P_ g\) introduced in [\textit{S. Paneitz}, A quartic conformally covariant differential operator for arbitrary pseudo-Riemannian manifold, MIT-Preprint (1983)] is defined by \[ p_ g (\phi)=\Delta ^ 2_ g + \text{div}\left(\frac 23R_ gg-2\text{Ric}_ g\right)d\phi, \] where \(\phi\) is an arbitrary smooth function on \(M\). It follows that the integral \(k_ P=\int_ M \mathcal Q_ g\,dV_ g\) is a conformal invariant. In the present note the authors assume that \(k_ P\in (8\pi^ 2, 16\pi^ 2)\) and \(M=\Sigma_ 1\times\Sigma_ 2\), where \(\Sigma_ 1\) and \(\Sigma_ 2\) are surfaces of genus \(g_ 1, g_ 2\geq 2\) resp. endowed with the Poincaré metric. If \(\ker P_ g=\{\text{constants}\}\) then there exists a metric \(\widetilde g\) conformal to \(g\) with constant and positive \(\mathcal Q\)-curvature. The authors announce also a general result given in a preprint -- if \(\ker P_ g=\{\text{constants}\}\) and \(k_ P\not =8k\pi^ 2\) for \(k\in \mathbb N\) then there exists a metric \(\tilde g\) conformal to \(g\) with constant \(\mathcal Q\)-curvature.