On the interplay between CPE metrics, vacuum static spaces and \(\sigma_2\)-singular spaces (Q2052376)

The author introduces the notion of CPE metrics as the critical points of the total scalar curvature functional restricted to the space of metrics with constant scalar curvature of unitary volume. A necessary and sufficient condition for a CPE metric to be Einstein is given in terms of \(\sigma 2\)-singular spaces. Furthermore, it is proven that the CPE condition can be replaced by the related vacuum static space condition to characterize closed Einstein manifolds in terms of \(\sigma 2\)-singular spaces.