On some problems of scalar curvature (Q860780)

On a Riemannian manifold \((V^n,g)\) of dimension \(n > 2\), the Yamabe problem is to find a new metric, conformally related to \(g\) which has a constant scalar curvature. It has been completly proved by \textit{T. Aubin} [J. Math. Pur. Appl. (9) 55, 269--296 (1976; Zbl 0336.53033)] and \textit{R. Schoen} [J. Differ. Geom. 20, 479--495 (1984; Zbl 0576.53028)]. In the paper under review, the author adresses a conjecture formulated by \textit{R. Schoen} in [Pitman Monogr. Surv. Pure Appl. Math. 52, 311--320 (1991; Zbl 0733.53021)], who gave a proof of it in the case of locally conformally flat manifolds. In this paper, a first one of a series of papers that the author devoted to this conjecture, he points out the role of the order of flatness of the Weyl tensor in the proof of the above conjecture, generalizing a previous result of himself and \textit{E. Hebey} and \textit{M. Vaugon} [Bull. Sci. Math., II. Sér. 117, No.~2, 241--286 (1993; Zbl 0786.53024)]. The paper contains also interesting expansion of the Green's function of the conformal Laplacian according to the order of flatness of the Weyl tensor at its pole.