The mixed Yamabe problem for harmonic foliations

Abstract

The mixed scalar curvature of a foliated Riemannian manifold, i.e., an averaged mixed sectional curvature, has been considered by several geometers. We explore the Yamabe type problem: to prescribe the constant mixed scalar curvature for a foliation by a conformal change of the metric in normal directions only. For a harmonic foliation, we derive the leafwise elliptic equation and explore the corresponding nonlinear heat type equation. We assume that the leaves are compact submanifolds and the manifold is fibered instead of being foliated, and use spectral parameters of certain Schr\"odinger operator to find solution, which is attractor of the equation.