Small eigenvalues of the conformal Laplacian (Q1403362)

The authors define the \(\kappa\)-invariant, \(\kappa(M)\), of a compact oriented differentiable manifold of dimension \(\geq 3\), as follows: \(\kappa(M)\) is the smallest integer \(p\) such that for every \(\varepsilon> 0\) is a Riemannian metric \(g_\varepsilon\) on \(M\) for which \(\mu_p(L_{g\varepsilon})= 1\) and \(|\mu_i(L_{g\varepsilon})|< \varepsilon\), \(0\leq i< p\), where \(L_{g\varepsilon}\) is the conformal Laplacian determined by \(g_\varepsilon\) (\(L_g= \Delta_g+ (n-2)/4(n- 1)\text{ Scal}_g\)) and \(\mu_0(L_{g\varepsilon})\leq \mu_1(L_{g\varepsilon})\leq \mu_2(L_{g\varepsilon})\leq\cdots\) is the spectrum of \(L_{g\varepsilon}\). If no such integer exists set \(\kappa(M)=\infty\). The main properties of this invariant established in the paper are: 1) \(\kappa(M)= 0\) if and only if there is a metric of positive scalar curvature on \(M\). 2) If \(M\) is connected and has a scalar-flat metric, then \(\kappa(M)\leq 1\). 3) If \(\widetilde M\) is obtained from \(M\) by surgery of codimension \(\geq 3\), then \(\kappa(\widetilde M)\leq \kappa(M)\). 4) Lower and upper bounds in terms of the \(\alpha\)-genus are obtained.