Nullspaces of conformally invariant operators. Applications to \(Q_k\)-curvature (Q1948468)

In this paper, the authors study conformal invariants that arise from functions in the nullspace of conformally covariant differential operators, which include nodal sets and the topology of nodal domains of eigenfunctions in the kernel of GJMS operators. Based on this, the authors establish that, on any manifold of dimension \(n\geq 3\), there exist many metrics for which their invariants are nontrivial. In addition, they discuss new applications to curvature prescription problems.