Prescribing a higher order conformal invariant on \(S^n\) (Q2386782)

Let \(S^{n}\), \(n \geq 2\), be the standard \(n\)-dimensional sphere and let \(\Delta _{0}\) be the Laplace operator associated with the standard metric \(g_{0}\) on \(S^{n}\). An important problem in differential geometry is to construct conformal metrics on \(S^2\) whose Gauss curvature equals a given positive function \(f\). This problem is equivalent to finding a solution of the equation \(-\Delta_0 w = f \, e^{2 w} - 1\) [e.g. see \textit{J. Moser}, Dynamical Syst. 1971, 273--280 (1973; Zbl 0275.53027)]. Some problems related to conformal metrics on \(S^{4}\) are equivalent to the problem of solution of the equation \(\Delta^{2} _{0} w - \Delta _{0} w = 6 (f \, e^{4 w} - 1)\) [see \textit{S. Brendle}, Ann. Math. (2) 158, No. 1, 323--343 (2003; Zbl 1042.53016)]. More generally, if \(n\) is even then on \(S^{n}\) there exists a conformally invariant self-adjoint operator with leading term \((- \Delta^{2})^\frac{n}{2}\) [e.g. see \textit{C. Fefferman} and \textit{R. Graham}, Astérisque, No. Hors Sér. 1985, 95--116 (1985; Zbl 0602.53007)]. On \(S^{n}\) this operator is given by \(P_{0} = \prod _{k=1}^{\frac{n}{2}} (- \Delta _{0} + (k-1)(n-k))\) [see \textit{T. Branson}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 347, 3671--3742 (1995; Zbl 0848.58047) and \textit{S.-Y. A. Chang} and \textit{P. C. Yang}, Ann. Math. 142, No. 1, 171--212 (1995; Zbl 0842.58011)]. In the paper under review the equation \[ P_{0} w = (n-1)! (f \, e^{n w} - 1) \tag{1} \] for some positive function \(f\) on \(S^{n}\) is considered. The equation (1) is a semilinear elliptic equation of order \(n\) involving the critical Sobolev exponent. Moreover, it is assumed that the function \(f\) satisfies the non-degeneracy condition \(\nabla _{0} f(p) = 0 \Longrightarrow \delta _{0} f(p) \neq 0\). In section 2 a-priori estimates for solutions of (1) satisfying some normalization condition are investigated. In section 3 it is shown that the a-priori estimates remain valid even if the normalization condition is dropped. The proof relies on the Kazdan-Warner identity [S.-Y. A. Chang and P. C. Yang, loc. cit.] and the non-degeneracy condition \(f\). By making use of a topological degree argument, in section 4 it was proved that (1) has a solution.