The conformal Codazzi structure is an intrinsic geometric structure on strictly convex hypersufaces in a locally flat projective manifold. We construct the GJMS operators and the Q-curvature for conformal Codazzi structures by using the ambient metric. We relate the total Q-curvature to the logarithmic coefficient in the volume expansion of the Blaschke metric, and derive the first and second variation formulas for a deformation of strictly convex domains.
For an even dimensional, compact, conformal manifold without boundary we construct a conformally invariant differential operator of order the dimension of the manifold. In the conformally flat case, this operator coincides with the critical {\sf GJMS} operator of Graham-Jenne-Mason-Sparling. We use the Wodzicki residue of a pseudo-differential operator of order $-2,$ originally defined by A. Connes, acting on middle dimension forms.
We give sufficient conditions on a function invariant under the action of an isometry group to be Branson's Q-curvature of a metric in a given conformal class, using the conformal GJMS operators.
This work generalizes a construction by Habermann and Jost of a canonical metric in a Yamabe-positive conformal class, which uses the Green function of the conformal Laplacian. In dimension $n=2k+1$, $2k+2$, or $2k+3$, if the $k$-th GJMS operator $P_k$ admits a Green function, the constant term of its singularity is shown to be a conformal density of weight $2k-n$, when restricted to appropriate choices of conformal factor. When it is positive, it is used to build a canonical metric in the conformal class. In the case of the Paneitz-Branson operator $P_2$, in dimension 5, 6 or 7, we show a pos…
We construct a series of conformally invariant differential operators acting on weighted trace-free symmetric 2-tensors by a method similar to Graham-Jenne-Mason-Sparling's. For compact conformal manifolds of dimension even and greater than or equal to four with vanishing ambient obstruction tensor, one of these operators is used to describe the second variation of the total Q-curvature. An explicit formula for conformally Einstein manifolds is given in terms of the Lichnerowicz Laplacian of an Einstein representative metric.
We describe a set of conformally covariant boundary operators associated to the sixth-order GJMS operator on a conformally invariant class of manifolds which includes compactifications of Poincaré--Einstein manifolds. This yields a conformally covariant energy functional for the sixth-order GJMS operator on such manifolds. Our boundary operators also provide a new realization of the fractional GJMS operators of order one, three, and five as generalized Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators. This allows us to prove some sharp Sobolev trace inequalities involving the interior $W^{3,2}$-seminorm, includ…
We argue that the AdS/CFT calculational prescription for double-trace deformations leads to a holographic derivation of the conformal anomaly, and its conformal primitive, associated to the whole family of conformally covariant powers of the Laplacian (GJMS operators) at the conformal boundary. The bulk side involves a quantum 1-loop correction to the SUGRA action and the boundary counterpart accounts for a sub-leading term in the large-N limit. The sequence of GJMS conformal Laplacians shows up in the two-point function of the CFT operator dual to a bulk scalar field at certain values of its …
On an even conformal manifold $(M,c)$, such that the critical GJMS operator has non-trivial kernel, we identify and discuss the role of a finite dimensional vector space $N(Q)$ of functions determined by the conformal structure. Using these we describe an infinite dimensional class of functions that cannot be the Q-curvature $Q^g$ for any $g$ in $c$. If certain functions arise in $N(Q)$ then $Q^g$ cannot be constant for any $g$ in $c$.
Under a spectral assumption on the Laplacian of a Poincaré--Einstein manifold, we establish an energy inequality relating the energy of a fractional GJMS operator of order $2γ\in(0,2)$ or $2γ\in(2,4)$ and the energy of the weighted conformal Laplacian or weighted Paneitz operator, respectively. This spectral assumption is necessary and sufficient for such an inequality to hold. We prove the energy inequalities by introducing conformally covariant boundary operators associated to the weighted conformal Laplacian and weighted Paneitz operator which generalize the Robin operator. As an applicatio…
We investigate the prescribed Q-curvature flow for GJMS operators with non-trivial kernel on compact manifolds of even dimension. When the total Q-curvature is negative, we identify a conformally invariant condition on the nodal domains of functions in the kernel of the GJMS operator, allowing us to prove the global existence and the convergence of the flow to a metric which is conformal to the initial one, and having a prescribed Q-curvature. If the total Q-curvature is positive, we show that the flow blows up in finite time.
We apply scattering theory on asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds to singular Yamabe metrics, applying the results to the study of the conformal geometry of compact manifolds with boundary. In particular, we define extrinsic versions of the conformally invariant powers of the Laplacian, or GJMS operators, on the boundary of any such manifold, along with associated extrinsic Q-curvatures. We use the existence and uniqueness of a singular Yamabe metric to define also nonlocal extrinsic fractional GJMS operators on the boundary, and draw other global conclusions about the scattering operator, inc…
We study analysis aspects of the sixth order GJMS operator $P_g^6$. Under conformal normal coordinates around a point, the expansions of Green's function of $P_g^6$ with pole at this point are presented. As a starting point of the study of $P_g^6$, we manage to give some existence results of prescribed $Q$-curvature problem on Einstein manifolds. One among them is that for $n \geq 10$, let $(M^n,g)$ be a closed Einstein manifold of positive scalar curvature and $f$ a smooth positive function in $M$. If the Weyl tensor is nonzero at a maximum point of $f$ and $f$ satisfies a vanishing order con…
The conformal anomalies and functional determinants of the Branson--GJMS operators, P_{2k}, on the d-dimensional sphere are evaluated in explicit terms for any d and k such that k < d/2+1 (if d is even). The determinants are given in terms of multiple gamma functions and a rational multiplicative anomaly, which vanishes for odd d. Taking the mode system on the sphere as the union of Neumann and Dirichlet ones on the hemisphere is a basic part of the method and leads to a heuristic explanation of the non--existence of `super--critical' operators, 2k>d for even d. Significant use is made of the …
We propose and discuss recursive formulas for conformally covariant powers $P_{2N}$ of the Laplacian (GJMS-operators). For locally conformally flat metrics, these describe the non-constant part of any GJMS-operator as the sum of a certain linear combination of compositions of lower order GJMS-operators (primary part) and a second-order operator which is defined by the Schouten tensor (secondary part). We complete the description of GJMS-operators by proposing and discussing recursive formulas for their constant terms, i.e., for Branson's $Q$-curvatures, along similar lines. We confirm the pict…
We study conformal invariants that arise from functions in the nullspace of conformally covariant differential operators. The invariants include nodal sets and the topology of nodal domains of eigenfunctions in the kernel of GJMS operators. We establish that on any manifold of dimension $n\geq 3$, there exist many metrics for which our invariants are nontrivial. We discuss new applications to curvature prescription problems.
We describe GJMS-operators as linear combinations of compositions of natural second-order differential operators. These are defined in terms of Poincaré-Einstein metrics and renormalized volume coefficients. As special cases, we find explicit formulas for conformally covariant third and fourth powers of the Laplacian. Moreover, we prove related formulas for all Branson's $Q$-curvatures. The results settle and refine conjectural statements in earlier works. The proofs rest on the theory of residue families.
Let $L_g$ be the subcritical GJMS operator on an even-dimensional compact manifold $(X, g)$ and consider the zeta-regularized trace $\mathrm{Tr}_ζ(L_g^{-1})$ of its inverse. We show that if $\ker L_g = 0$, then the supremum of this quantity, taken over all metrics $g$ of fixed volume in the conformal class, is always greater than or equal to the corresponding quantity on the standard sphere. Moreover, we show that in the case that it is strictly larger, the supremum is attained by a metric of constant mass. Using positive mass theorems, we give some geometric conditions for this to happen.
Motivated by AdS/CFT, the extension is made to spin-half of a scalar calculation of the conformal anomalies and functional determinants of GJMS operators. The formal aspects are heuristic but sufficient. A Barnes zeta function representation again proves effective. The determinants are calculated for the two factorisations of the gamma-function (intertwiner) form of the GJMS operator, and shown to be equal, even including the multiplicative anomaly. A comment is made on the general eigenvalue problem and a few numerical results are presented. An alternative approach is detailed for odd dimensi…
On locally conformally flat manifolds we describe a construction which maps generalised conformal Killing tensors to differential operators which may act on any conformally weighted tensor bundle; the operators in the range have the property that they are symmetries of any natural conformally invariant differential operator between such bundles. These are used to construct all symmetries of the conformally invariant powers of the Laplacian (often called the GJMS operators) on manifolds of dimension at least 3. In particular this yields all symmetries of the powers of the Laplacian $Δ^k$, $k\in…
In this paper, we study conformal invariants that arise from nodal sets and negative eigenvalues of conformally covariant operators; more specifically, the GJMS operators, which include the Yamabe and Paneitz operators. We give several applications to curvature prescription problems. We establish a version in conformal geometry of Courant's Nodal Domain Theorem. We also show that on any manifold of dimension $n\geq 3$, there exist many metrics for which our invariants are nontrivial. We prove that the Yamabe operator can have an arbitrarily large number of negative eigenvalues on any manifold …
A new definition of canonical conformal differential operators $P_k$ ($k=1,2,...)$, with leading term a $k^{\rm th}$ power of the Laplacian, is given for conformally Einstein manifolds of any signature. These act between density bundles and, more generally, between weighted tractor bundles of any rank. By construction these factor into a power of a fundamental Laplacian associated to Einstein metrics. There are natural conformal Laplacian operators on density bundles due to Graham-Jenne-Mason-Sparling (GJMS). It is shown that on conformally Einstein manifolds these agree with the $P_k$ operato…
In this paper, we mainly study the scattering operators for the Poincaré-Einstein manifolds. Those operators give the fractional GJMS operators $P_{2γ}$ for the conformal infinity. If a Poincaré-Einstein manifolds $(X^{n+1}, g_+)$ is locally conformally flat and there exists an representative $g$ for the conformal infinity $(M, [g])$ such that the scalar curvature $R$ is a positive constant and $Q_4>0$, then we prove that $P_{2γ}$ is positive for $γ\in (1,2)$ and thus the first real scattering pole is less than $\frac{n}{2}-2$.
For a finite reflection subgroup $G\leq O(n+1,1,\mR)$ of the conformal group of the sphere with standard conformal structure $(S^n,[g_0])$, we geometrically derive differential-difference Dunkl version of the series of conformally invariant differential operators with symbols given by powers of Laplace operator. The construction can be regarded as a deformation of the Fefferman-Graham ambient metric construction of GJMS operators.
This paper consists of two parts. In the first part we show that in odd dimension, as well as in even dimension below the critical weight (i.e. half the dimension), the logarithmic singularities of Schwartz kernels and Green kernels of conformal invariant pseudodifferential operators are linear combinations of Weyl conformal invariants, i.e., of local conformal invariants arising from complete tensorial contractions of the covariant derivatives of the Lorentz ambient metric of Fefferman-Graham. In even dimension and above the critical weight exceptional local conformal invariants may further c…
We consider the volume expansion of the Blaschke metric, which is a projectively invariant metric on a strictly convex domain in a locally flat projective manifold. When the boundary is even dimensional, we express the logarithmic coefficient L as the integral of affine invariants over the boundary. We also formulate an intrinsic geometry of the boundary as a conformal Codazzi structure and show that L gives a global conformal invariant of the boundary.
Unique continuation results are proved for metrics with prescribed Ricci curvature in the setting of bounded metrics on compact manifolds with boundary, and in the setting of complete, conformally compact metrics. Related to this issue, an isometry extension property is proved: continuous groups of isometries at conformal infinity extend into the bulk of any complete conformally compact Einstein metric. Relations of this property with the invariance of the Gauss-Codazzi constraint equations under deformations are also discussed.
In this study, we investigate generalized quasi-Einstein structure for normal metric contact pair manifolds. Firstly, we deal with elementary properties and examine, existence, and characterizations of generalized quasi-Einstein normal metric contact pair manifold. Secondly, the generalized quasi-constant curvature of normal metric contact pair manifolds are studied and it is proven that a normal metric contact pair manifold with generalized quasi-constant curvature is a generalized quasi-Einstein manifold. Normal metric contact pair manifolds satisfying cyclic Ricci tensor and the Codazzi typ…
In [dLMu05], DeLellis and Müller proved a quantitative version of Codazzi's theorem, namely for a smooth embedded surface $\ Σ\subseteq \mathbb{R}^3\ $ with area normalized to $\ {\cal H}^2(Σ) = 4 π $, it was shown that $\ \parallel A_Σ- id \parallel_{L^2(Σ)} \leq C \parallel A^0_Σ\parallel_{L^2(Σ)}\ $, and building on this, closeness of $\ Σ $ to a round sphere in $\ W^{2,2}\ $ was established, when $\ \parallel A^0_Σ\parallel_{L^2(Σ)}\ $ is small. This was supplemented in [dLMu06] by giving a conformal parametrization $\ S^2 \stackrel{\approx}{\longrightarrow} Σ $ with small conformal factor…
There is a class of Laplacian like conformally invariant differential operators on differential forms $L^\ell_k$ which may be considered the generalisation to differential forms of the conformally invariant powers of the Laplacian known as the Paneitz and GJMS operators. On conformally Einstein manifolds we give explicit formulae for these as explicit factored polynomials in second order differential operators. In the case the manifold is not Ricci flat we use this to provide a direct sum decomposition of the null space of the $L^\ell_k$ in terms of the null spaces of mutually commuting second…
In this paper, we prove that nonnegative polyharmonic functions on the upper half space satisfying a conformally invariant nonlinear boundary condition have to be the "\emph{polynomials} plus \emph{bubbles}" form. The nonlinear problem is motivated by the recent studies of boundary GJMS operators and the $Q$-curvature in conformal geometry. The result implies that in the conformal class of the unit Euclidean ball there exist metrics with a single singular boundary point which have flat $Q$-curvature and constant boundary $Q$-curvature. Moreover, all of such metrics are classified. This phenome…
The conformal powers of the Laplacian of a Riemannian metric which are known as the GJMS-operators admit a combinatorial description in terms of the Taylor coefficients of a natural second-order one-parameter family $\H(r;g)$ of self-adjoint elliptic differential operators. $\H(r;g)$ is a non-Laplace-type perturbation of the conformal Laplacian $P_2(g) = \H(0;g)$. It is defined in terms of the metric $g$ and covariant derivatives of the curvature of $g$. We study the heat kernel coefficients $a_{2k}(r;g)$ of $\H(r;g)$ on closed manifolds. We prove general structural results for the heat kernel…
The curvature properties of Robinson-Trautman metric have been investigated. It is shown that Robinson-Trautman metric admits several kinds of pseudosymmetric type structures such as Weyl pseudosymmetric, Ricci pseudosymmetric, pseudosymmetric Weyl conformal curvature tensor etc. Also it is shown that the difference $R\cdot R - Q(S,R)$ is linearly dependent with $Q(g,C)$ but the metric is not Ricci generalized pseudosymmetric. Moreover, it is proved that this metric is Roter type, 2-quasi-Einstein, Ricci tensor is Riemann compatible and its Weyl conformal curvature 2-forms are recurrent. It is…
We give an explicit description of the full asymptotic expansion of the Schwartz kernel of the complex powers of $m$-Laplace type operators $L$ on compact Riemannian manifolds in terms of Riesz distributions. The constant term in this asymptotic expansion turns turns out to be given by the local zeta function of $L$. In particular, the constant term in the asymptotic expansion of the Green's function $L^{-1}$ is often called the mass of $L$, which (in case that $L$ is the Yamabe operator) is an important invariant, namely a positive multiple of the ADM mass of a certain asymptotically flat man…
We study a characterization of 4-dimensional (not necessarily complete) gradient Ricci solitons $(M, g, f)$ which have harmonic Weyl curvature, i.e. $δW=0$. Roughly speaking, we prove that the soliton metric $g$ is locally isometric to one of the following four types: an Einstein metric, the product $ \mathbb{R}^2 \times N_λ$ of the Euclidean metric and a 2-d Riemannian manifold of constant curvature $λ \neq 0$, a certain singular metric and a locally conformally flat metric. The method here is motivated by Cao-Chen's works \cite{CC1, CC2} and Derdziński's study on Codazzi tensors \cite{De}. C…
We consider smooth bounded surfaces with a smooth boundary and a prescribed background metric g_0. We now consider all metrics g conformal to g_0 which have a prescribed volume M. We now minimize the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator of g over the metrics conformal to g_0 and having the prescribed volume. We show that this problem is equivalent to the study of the Composite Membrane Problem, a free boundary problem studied earlier by the author and his collaborators in all dimensions. Thus complete answers, existence of the limit metric, regularity of the minimizing eigenfunction and va…
On conformally compact manifolds of arbitrary signature, we use conformal geometry to identify a natural (and very general) class of canonical boundary problems. It turns out that these encompass and extend aspects of already known holographic bulk-boundary problems, the conformal scattering description of boundary conformal invariants, and corresponding questions surrounding a range of physical bulk wave equations. These problems are then simultaneously solved asymptotically to all orders by a single universal calculus of operators that yields what may be described as a solution generating al…
We construct continuously parametrised families of conformally invariant boundary operators on densities. These may also be viewed as conformally covariant boundary operators on functions and generalise to higher orders the first-order conformal Robin operator and an analogous third-order operator of Chang-Qing. Our families include operators of critical order on odd-dimensional boundaries. Combined with the (conformal Laplacian power) GJMS operators, a suitable selection of the boundary operators yields formally self-adjoint elliptic conformal boundary problems. Working on a conformal manifol…
We describe an elementary algorithm for expressing, as explicit formulae in tractor calculus, the conformally invariant GJMS operators due to C.R. Graham et alia. These differential operators have leading part a power of the Laplacian. Conformal tractor calculus is the natural induced bundle calculus associated to the conformal Cartan connection. Applications discussed include standard formulae for these operators in terms of the Levi-Civita connection and its curvature and a direct definition and formula for T. Branson's so-called Q-curvature (which integrates to a global conformal invariant)…
The main objective of the present paper is to investigate the curvature properties of generalized pp-wave metric. It is shown that generalized pp-wave spacetime is Ricci generalized pseudosymmetric, 2-quasi-Einstein and generalized quasi-Einstein in the sense of Chaki. As a special case it is shown that pp-wave spacetime is semisymmetric, semisymmetric due to conformal and projective curvature tensors, $R$-space by Venzi and satisfies the pseudosymmetric type condition $P\cdot P = -\frac{1}{3}Q(S, P)$. Again we investigate the sufficient condition for which a generalized pp-wave spacetime turn…
We formulate and discuss two conjectures concerning recursive formulae for Branson's $Q$-curvatures. The proposed formulae describe all $Q$-curvatures on manifolds of all even dimensions in terms of respective lower order $Q$-curvatures and lower order GJMS-operators. They are universal in the dimension of the underlying space. The recursive formulae are generated by an algorithm which rests on the theory of residue families. We attempt to resolve the algorithm by formulating a conjectural description of the coefficients in the recursive formulae in terms of interpolation polynomials associate…
We address the problem of surface inpainting, which aims to fill in holes or missing regions on a Riemann surface based on its surface geometry. In practical situation, surfaces obtained from range scanners often have holes where the 3D models are incomplete. In order to analyze the 3D shapes effectively, restoring the incomplete shape by filling in the surface holes is necessary. In this paper, we propose a novel conformal approach to inpaint surface holes on a Riemann surface based on its surface geometry. The basic idea is to represent the Riemann surface using its conformal factor and mean…
On a closed Riemannian manifold $(M,g_0)$ of even dimension $n \geqslant 4$, the well-known prescribed $Q$-curvature problem asks whether or not there is a metric $g$ comformal to $g_0$ such that its $Q$-curvature, associated with the GJMS operator $\mathbf P_g$, is equal to a given function $f$. Letting $g = e^{2u}g_0$, this problem is equivalent to solving \[ \mathbf P_{g_0} u+Q_{g_0} = f e^{nu}, \] where $Q_{g_0}$ denotes the $Q$-curvature of $g_0$. The primary objective of the paper is to introduce the following negative gradient flow of the time dependent metric $g(t)$ conformal to $g_0$,…
