Metrics with \(\lambda_1(-\Delta + k R) \ge 0\) and flexibility in the Riemannian Penrose inequality (Q6110169)

Given a closed orientable \(3\)-manifold \(M\) and the set \(\mathrm{Met}(M)\) of all smooth Riemannian metrics on \(M\), the authors consider the family \[ \mathscr{M}_k^{\geq 0}\,=\,\{g\in\mathrm{Met}(M)\,:\,\lambda_1(-\Delta_g+kR_g)\geq 0\}\,, \] and the analogously defined \(\mathscr{M}_k^{> 0}\), where \(k\in\mathbb{R}\) is a constant. Depending on the value of \(k\), the families \(\mathscr{M}_k^{\geq 0}\) and \(\mathscr{M}_k^{> 0}\) appear in various geometric contexts, such as Perelman's Ricci flow with surgery (\(k=1/4\)), the study of stable minimal hypersurfaces (\(k=1/2\)) and the Yamabe problem (\(k=1/8\)). It also makes sense to set \(k=\infty\), in which case \(\mathscr{M}_\infty^{\geq 0}\) (resp. \(\mathscr{M}_\infty^{> 0}\)) corresponds to the family of metrics with non-negative (resp. positive) scalar curvature. Generalizing previous results in [\textit{F. C. Marques}, Ann. Math. (2) 176, No. 2, 815--863 (2012; Zbl 1319.53028)], assuming that \(M\) is topologically PSC (meaning that \(\mathscr{M}_\infty^{>0}\neq\emptyset\)) the authors prove that the moduli spaces \(\mathscr{M}_k^{\geq 0}/\mathrm{Diff}_+(M)\) and \(\mathscr{M}_k^{> 0}/\mathrm{Diff}_+(M)\) are path-connected for all \(k\in[1/4,\infty]\). Combining this with the fact that \(\mathscr{M}_\infty^{> 0}\) is contractible (proved recently in [\textit{R. H. Bamler}, \textit{B. Kleiner}, ``Ricci flow and contractibility of spaces of metrics'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1909.08710}]), they conclude that \(\mathscr{M}_k^{\geq 0}\) and \(\mathscr{M}_k^{> 0}\) are path-connected for all \(k\in[1/4,+\infty]\). Since the case \(k=1/8\) is also of interest, the authors consider this case as well, showing contractibility of \(\mathscr{M}_{1/8}^{> 0}\) and weak contractibility of \(\mathscr{M}_{1/8}^{\geq 0}\). The authors then apply these results to the Bartnik extension problem. It is shown that either there are no Riemannian metrics \(g\) such that \((M,g)\) admits a Bartnik extension, or \((M,g)\) admits a Bartnik extension for all \(g\in\overline{\mathscr{M}_{1/2}^{> 0}}\). A formula for the Bartnik mass in terms of the volume and topology of \(M\) is also given. Similar, stronger, conclusions are obtained for \textit{H. L. Bray}'s modification of Bartnik's mass [J. Differ. Geom. 59, No. 2, 177--267 (2001; Zbl 1039.53034)]. Finally, the authors give results in the same spirit concerning the fill-in problem proposed by Gromov in~[\textit{M. Gromov}, ``Scalar Curvature of Manifolds with Boundaries: Natural Questions and Artificial Constructions'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1811.04311}].