Constant \(Q\)-curvature metrics in arbitrary dimension (Q2460013)

The author studies the question of existence of constant \(Q\)-curvature metrics on compact \(n\)-dimensional manifolds. More precisely, given a compact \(n\)-dimensional manifold \((M,g)\) one can define a family of conformally covariant differential operators \(P^n_{2m}\) (GJMS operators) (for every positive integer \(m\) if \(n\) is odd and for every positive integer \(m\) such that \(2m\leq n\) if \(n\) is even), whose leading term is \((-\nabla_g)^m\). Some curvature invariants \(Q^n_{2m}\) can be naturally associated to \(P^n_{2m}\). For example, for \(n=2\), \(P^2_g=\nabla_g\), the Laplace-Beltrami operator for smooth functions on \(M\), \(Q_g=K_g\) the Gauss curvature of \(g\). For \(n=4\), \(P^4_g=P_g\) the Paneitz operator, \(Q^4_g=2Q_g\) the Paneitz \(Q\)-curvature, (see references quoted in the paper). \(P^n_g\) is self-adjoint and annihilates constants and satisfies the following properties: \(P^n_{\widetilde g}=e^{nu}P^n_g\), \(\widetilde g=e^{2u}g\); (\(\star\)) \(P^n_gu+Q^n_g=Q^n_{\widetilde g}e^{nu}\). In particular, the author is interested to see whether every compact \(n\)-dimensional manifold \((M,g)\) (\(n\) even) admits a conformal metric \(\widetilde g\) for which the corresponding \(Q\)-curvature \(Q^n_g\) is a constant. This is equivalent to solve equation \((\star\)) with \(Q^n_g, Q^n_{\widetilde g}\in{\mathbb R}\). This is a \(n\)th-order nonlinear elliptic differential equation with variational structure. Then, the author solves the problem by considering critical point theory for the corresponding Euler-functional, under the following assumptions: 1) \(\ker P^n_g\simeq[\text{constants}]\); 2) \(\int_MQ^n_g\, dV_g\not=K(n-1)!\omega_n\), \(K=1,2,\dots\), where \(\omega_n\) is the volume of the \(n\)-sphere \(S^n\subset{\mathbb R}^{n+1}\). Remark. Let us emphasize that the problem considered in this paper is in some sense a generalization of the well-known Yamabe problem for Riemannian manifolds. Consequently, new algebraic-topological methods characterizing local and global solutions of PDEs can be similarly applied also. (See some recent works by the reviewer of this paper. In particular see a recent joint work with R. Agarwal on some PDEs of Riemannian manifolds, where also ``generalized Yamabe problems'' are considered.)