Positive mass theorem for the Yamabe problem on spin manifolds (Q2571739)

In this paper the authors present a short proof of the positive mass theorem of \textit{R. Schoen} and \textit{S. T. Yau} (see e.g. Commun. Math. Phys 65, 45--76 (1979; Zbl 0405.53045); Invent. Math 92, No.~1, 47--71 (1988; Zbl 0658.53038)]) -- originally arising in general relativity, and strongly related to the Yamabe problem -- for spin manifolds which are also locally conformally flat (and then they extend it to arbitrary spin manifolds of dimensions 3, 4, and 5) by resorting to an argument already used by \textit{E. Witten} in his approach to the same problem for spin manifolds, consisting in the construction a suitable singular harmonic spinor [Commmun. Math. Phys. 80, No.~3, 381--402 (1981; Zbl 1051.83532)], in conjunction with Lichnerowicz's formula. Although they finally obtain weaker results than those of Witten and Schoen-Yau, the main advantage of their treatment lies in its ``elementary'' character, since only basic facts from analysis on compact manifolds are employed (specifically Laplacian Green functions and estimates thereon in order to get Witten's test spinor), and directly leads to solving the Yamabe problem in these cases. The paper is written with outstanding precision and clarity, both technically and historically, and, in the reviewer's opinion, provides an important addition to the literature on these fascinating problems.