The difference of topology at infinity in changing-sign Yamabe problems on \(S^ 3\) (the case of two masses). (Q2710686)

The authors study the simplest cases of differences of topology at infinity in Yamabe-type problems with changing-sign solutions. After the appearence of the papers by \textit{M. O. Ahmedou} and \textit{K. O. El Mehdi} [Duke Math. J. 94, 215--229 (1998; Zbl 0966.35043)] and by \textit{A. Bahri}, \textit{Y. Y. Li} and \textit{O. Rey} [Calc. Var. Partial Differ. Equ. 3, 67--93 (1995; Zbl 0814.35032)] these differences of topology are starting to be well understood in the framework of positive functions. Completing such a task is important not only per se, but also because it lays the ground for Yang-Mills (Einstein's?) equations. These equations should only represent a complication in the background framework with respect to Yamabe changing-sign problems. In the paper under review, the authors are completing this program for the pure Yamabe problem -- allowing for sign changes - on \(S^3\) and for only pairs of functions at infinity.