On the Chen-Lin conjecture for the prescribed scalar curvature problem (Q6163856)

A seminal question in the interplay of Riemannian geometry and geometric analysis is: Given an \(n\)-dimension smooth manifold \(M^n\), \(n\geq 3\), does \(M\) admit a metric of constant scalar curvature?. Yamabe was among the first to approach this question using variational methods. Namely, given an existing Riemannian metric \(g\) on \(M\) and considering \(u^{\frac{4}{n-2}}g\) for a smooth, positive function \(u: M\rightarrow \mathbb{R}\), the question translates into the requirement that \(u\) satisfies the elliptic PDE \[ \mathrm{scal}(u^{\frac{4}{n-2}}g)=\lambda. \] for some \(\lambda \in \mathbb R\). The solution gives a metric in the conformal class of \(g\) realizing a certain constant \(\lambda\) as the scalar curvature of \(u^{4/n-2}g\). Later, \textit{J. L. Kazdan} and \textit{F. W. Warner} [Ann. Math. (2) 101, 317--331 (1975; Zbl 0297.53020)] approached a slight modification of this question: On an \(n\)-dimension Riemannian manifold \((M^n,g),~n\geq 3\), which are the smooth functions realized as the scalar curvature for some Riemannian metric on \(M\)? If \((M^n,g)\) is the round sphere \((S^n,g)\), a related question attributed to Nirenberg is: Does a given smooth, positive function \(K:{S}^n\rightarrow \mathbb{R},~n\geq 3\) allow a solution for the PDE \[ \mathrm{scal}(u^{4/n-2}g) = K? \] This question remains open in that generality even now, only necessary conditions being known. The introduction of the paper gives a historical and bibliographic account. The present paper deals with the Nirenberg problem. More precisely, the authors verify a conjecture by \textit{C.-C. Chen} and \textit{C.-S. Lin} [J. Differ. Geom. 57, No. 1, 67--171 (2001; Zbl 1043.53028)] on a Leray-Schauder degree formula for the Nirenberg problem assuming flatness conditions near critical points of \(K\). The employed machinery is based on the theory of critical points at infinity from [\textit{A. Bahri}, Critical points at infinity in some variational problems. Harlow: Longman Scientific \&| Technical; New York: John Wiley \&| Sons (1989; Zbl 0676.58021)] under given specific hypotheses close to the work of \textit{C.-C. Chen} and \textit{C.-S. Lin} [Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 24, No. 5--6, 785--799 (1999; Zbl 0953.58023)]. Their techniques allow the author to obtain sufficient conditions for the existence of solutions to the Nirenberg problem.