Conformal scalar curvature equation on S^n: functions with two close critical points (twin pseudo-peaks)

Abstract

By using the Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method without perturbation, we consider existence results for the conformal scalar curvature on S^n (n greater or equal to 3) when the prescribed function (after being projected to R^n) has two close critical points, which have the same value (positive), equal "flatness" (twin, flatness < n - 2), and exhibit maximal behavior in certain directions (pseudo-peaks). The proof relies on a balance between the two main contributions to the reduced functional - one from the critical points and the other from the interaction of the two bubbles.