Finite energy solutions to the Yamabe equation (Q1419411)

Let \(M\) be a complete noncompact Riemannian manifold of dimension \(n\geq 3\). Assume that \(M\) has nonnegative scalar curvature, \(S\geq 0\). Define the Yamabe constant of \(M\) by \[ Y(M) = \inf_{u\in C^\infty_o(M)}\int_M(| \nabla u| ^2 + {n-2 \over 4(n-1)}Su^2) d\text{vol} / \| u\| ^2_{L^{2n/(n-2)}(M)} \] and the Yamabe constant at infinity by \[ Y_\infty(M) = \lim_{r\to \infty}\inf_{u\in C^\infty_o(M-B(p,r))}\int_M(| \nabla u| ^2 + {n-2 \over 4(n-1)}Su^2) d\text{vol} / \| u\| ^2_{L^{2n/(n-2)}(M)} . \] In this paper it is shown that the Yamabe equation \[ \Delta u - {n-2 \over 4(n-1)} Su + u^{(n+2)/(n-2)} = 0 \] has a positive solution \(u\in L^{2n/(n-2)}(M)\) provided (a) vol\(B(p,r) \leq C\cdot r^{n-\rho}\) for some \(\rho > 0\) and (b) \(0\leq Y(M) < Y_\infty(M)\). Furthermore, the solution satisfies a certain decay condition at infinity. The author discusses the relation of the present paper to the results in \textit{S. Kim's} article [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl. 26, 1985-1993 (1996; Zbl 0858.53029)].