A Paneitz-Branson type equation with Neumann boundary conditions

Abstract

We consider the best constant in a critical Sobolev inequality of second order. We show non-rigidity for the optimizers above a certain threshold, namely we prove that the best constant is achieved by a non-constant solution of the associated fourth-order elliptic problem under Neumann boundary conditions. Our arguments rely on asymptotic estimates of the Rayleigh quotient. We also show rigidity below another threshold.