Existence results for the prescribed scalar curvature on \(S^3\) (Q660440)

This paper deals with the following question: given a function \(K\in C^2({\mathbb S}^3)\), does there exist a metric \(g\) conformally equivalent to the standard one whose scalar curvature is given by \(K\)? This question implies the solving for positive solutions of the nonlinear equation \[ -8\Delta u+6u=Ku^5\qquad\text{in}\;{\mathbb S}^3. \] The main result of the present paper establishes that, under a natural assumption, the above nonlinear elliptic equation has at least a positive solution. The proof combines variational arguments with the theory of critical points at infinity.