On variational formulas of a conformally invariant functional (Q2258323)

Let \((M,g)\) be a closed \(n\)-dimensional Riemannian manifold. Let \(W\) be the conformal curvature tensor and let \(\mathcal{F}(g):=\frac2n\int_M|W|^{n/2}d\mathrm{Vol}_g\) be the (normalized) Weyl energy functional. If \(h\) is a symmetric \(2\)-tensor, one may compute the associated Euler-Lagrange equations: \[ \partial_t|_{t=0}\mathcal{F}(g+t h)=\int_M\langle\mathcal{E}(g),h\rangle d\mathrm{Vol}_g\,. \] The Euler-Lagrange equations in dimension \(4\) were determined by \textit{O. Kobayashi} [J. Math. Soc. Japan 37, 373--389 (1985; Zbl 0571.53028)]; they depend on the covariant derivatives of the Cotten tensor, the Weyl tensor, and the Schouten tensor. In the present paper, the authors examine when the Euler-Lagrange equations vanish (i.e., the Weyl energy functional has a critical point) for arbitrary dimensions \(n\geq4\) (see Theorem 1.2). They also study when that critical point is stable. They show that the standard metric of constant sectional curvature on \(S^3(1)\times S^3(1)\) is a strictly stable critical point of \(\mathcal{F}\).