On positive solutions to semi-linear conformally invariant equations on locally conformally flat manifolds

Abstract

In this paper we study the existence and compactness of positive solutions to a family of conformally invariant equations on closed locally conformally flat manifolds. The family of conformally covariant operators $P_\alpha$ were introduced via the scattering theory for Poincar\'{e} metrics associated with a conformal manifold $(M^n, [g])$. We prove that, on a closed and locally conformally flat manifold with Poincar\'{e} exponent less than $\frac {n-\alpha}2$ for some $\alpha \in [2, n)$, the set of positive smooth solutions to the equation $$ P_\alpha u = u^\frac {n+\alpha}{n-\alpha} $$ is compact in the $C^\infty$ topology. Therefore the existence of positive solutions follows from the existence of Yamabe metrics and a degree theory.