Einstein and scalar flat Riemannian metrics

Abstract

On a given closed connected manifold of dimension two, or greater, we consider the squared $L^2$-norm of the scalar curvature functional over the space of constant volume Riemannian metrics. We prove that its critical points have constant scalar curvature, and use this to show that a metric is a solution of the critical point equation if, and only if, it is either Einstein, or scalar flat.