## Category Archives: PDE

342394

### A negative gradient flow under constraint

Suppose we have two $C^1$ functionals $J$ and $L$ on a Hilbert space $H$. Suppose we want to have a flow $u(t)$ such that along the flow $J(u(t))$ decrease and $L(u(t))$ remains the same.

Suppose $\nabla L(u)\neq 0$, for any $u\in H$, which means that $\mathcal{C}=\{u:L(u)=C\}$ is a regular hypersurface of $H$. Define the unit normal vector field

$\displaystyle N(u)=\frac{\nabla u}{||\nabla u||_H}$

and

$\displaystyle \nabla^{\mathcal{C}}J=\nabla J-\langle \nabla J,N \rangle N$

Then it is easy to the flow $\partial_t u=-\nabla^{\mathcal{C}}J$ will satisfy our request.

For example let $P_{g_0}$ be the Paneitz operator of fourth order. Assume it is a positive operator. Define

$H=W^{2,2}\text{ with norm }||u||_H^2=\int uP_{g_0}ud\mu_0$

Choose our $L(u)=||u||_H$ and $J(u)=-\frac{n-4}{2n}\int |u|^{\frac{2n}{n-4}}d\mu_0$

then $\nabla L(u)=u$ and $\nabla J(u)=-P_{g_0}^{-1}|u|^{\frac{n+4}{n-4}}$. Consequently

$\nabla^{\mathcal{C}}J=-P_{g_0}^{-1}|u|^{\frac{n+4}{n-4}}+\frac{\int |u|^{\frac{2n}{n-4}}d\mu_0}{||u||_H^2}u$

Then one may have the following flow

$\displaystyle \partial_t u=-u+\mu P_{g_0}^{-1}(|u|^{\frac{n+4}{n-4}})$

where $\mu=||u||_H^2/\int |u|^{\frac{2n}{n-4}}d\mu_0$.

P. Baird, A. Fardoun, R. Regbaoui, Calculus of Variations Q-curvature flow on 4-manifolds, 27 (2006) 75–104.

M. Gursky, A. Malchiodi, A strong maximum principle for the Paneitz operator and a non-local flow for the $Q$-curvature, J. Eur. Math. Soc. 17 (2015) 2137–2173.

### Some calculation of sigma2 II

We want find the critical metric of the following functional restricted to the space of conformal metrics of unit volume

$\displaystyle I(g)=\frac{n-4}{2}t\int_M J^2_gd\mu_g+4\int_M\sigma_2(A_g)d\mu_g$

Here ${(M^n,g)}$ is a Riemannian metric with ${n\geq 5}$, ${A}$ is the Schouten tensor and ${J}$ is ${tr_gA}$.

Now let us differentiate the two terms respectively, suppose ${g(s)=(1+s\psi)^{\frac{4}{n-4}}g=u(s)^{\frac{4}{n-2}}g}$. From conformal change property of scalar curvature, we get

$\displaystyle J_{g(s)}=u(s)^{-\frac{n+2}{n-2}}\left(-\frac{2}{n-2}\Delta_{g}u(s)+Ju(s)\right)$

$\displaystyle \dot J=-\frac{2}{n-2}\Delta_g\dot u-\frac{4}{n-2}J\dot u$

Then

$\displaystyle \frac{d}{ds}|_{t=0}\int_{M}J_{g(s)}^2d\mu_{g(s)}=\int_{M}2J\dot{J}+\frac{2n}{n-2}J^2\dot ud\mu$

$\displaystyle =\int_M -\frac{4}{n-2}J\Delta \dot u+\frac{2(n-4)}{n-2}J^2\dot ud\mu$

$\displaystyle =\int_M\left(-\frac{4}{n-4}\Delta J+2J^2\right)\psi d\mu$

where we have used the fact ${\dot u(0)=\frac{n-2}{n-4}\psi}$. Next, it is easy to know

$\displaystyle \frac{d}{ds}|_{t=0}\int_M \sigma_2(A_{g(s)})d\mu_{g(s)}=2\int_{M}\sigma_2(A)\psi d\mu$So

$\displaystyle I'(g)\psi=2t\int_{M}\left(-\Delta J+\frac{n-4}{2}J\right)\psi d\mu_g+8\int_{M}\sigma_2(A)\psi d\mu_g$

Now assume ${g(s)}$ keep the unit volume infinitesimally, that is ${\int_M \psi d\mu=0}$, then ${I'(g)=0}$ under this constraint means

$\displaystyle t\left(-\Delta J+\frac{n-4}{2}J\right)+4\sigma_2(A)=const.$

Remark: M.J. Gursky, F. Hang, Y.-J. Lin, Riemannian Manifolds with Positive Yamabe Invariant and Paneitz Operator, Int. Math. Res. Not.

### Concavity maximum principle

Let $u\in C^2(\Omega)\cap C(\bar{\Omega})$ satisfy the elliptic equation

$\displaystyle Lu=a^{ij}(Du)u_{ij}-b(x,u,Du)=0\quad \text{in }\Omega$

Assume $b$ is jointly concave with respect to $(x,u)$ and

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial b}{\partial u}\geq 0$

Then

$\mathcal{C}(y_1,y_3,\lambda)=u(\lambda y_3+(1-\lambda)y_1)-\lambda u(y_3)-(1-\lambda)u(y_1)$

can not achieve positive maximum in the interior of $\Omega\times \Omega$.

See the paper Korevaar 1983

### Some identities related to mean curvature of order m

For any ${n\times n}$ (not necessarily symmetric) matrix ${\mathcal{A}}$, we let ${[\mathcal{A}]_m}$ denote the sum of its ${m\times m}$ principle minors. For any hypersurface which is a graph of ${u\in C^2(\Omega)}$, where ${\Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^n}$. We have its downward unit normal is

$\displaystyle (\nu,\nu_{n+1})=\left(\frac{Du}{\sqrt{1+|Du|^2}},\frac{-1}{\sqrt{1+|Du|^2}}\right).$

The principle curvatures are taken from the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix ${[D\nu]}$. One can define its ${m}$ mean curvature using the notation of above

$\displaystyle H_m=\sum_{i_1<\cdots

Now let us consider general matrix ${\mathcal{A}}$,

$\displaystyle A_m=[\mathcal{A}]_m=\frac{1}{m!}\sum \delta\binom{i_1,\cdots,i_m}{j_1,\cdots,j_m}a_{i_1j_1}\cdots a_{i_mj_m}$

where ${\delta}$ is the generalized Kronecker delta.

$\displaystyle \delta\binom{i_1 \dots i_p }{j_1 \dots j_p} = \begin{cases} +1 & \quad \text{if } i_1 \dots i_p \text{ are distinct and an even permutation of } j_1 \dots j_p \\ -1 & \quad \text{if } i_1 \dots i_p \text{ are distinct and an odd permutation of } j_1 \dots j_p \\ \;\;0 & \quad \text{in all other cases}.\end{cases}$

Then we define the Newton tensor

$\displaystyle T^{ij}_m=\frac{\partial A_m}{\partial a_{ij}}=\frac{1}{(m-1)!}\sum\delta\binom{i,i_2 \dots i_m }{j,j_2 \dots j_m}a_{i_2j_2}\cdots a_{i_m j_m}.$

For any vector field ${X}$ on ${\mathbb{R}^n}$, ${DX}$ is a matrix, where ${D=(D_{1},\cdots,D_n)}$ and ${|X|\neq 0}$, denote ${\tilde X=X/|X|}$, we have

$\displaystyle (m-1)!T^{ij}_m(DX)X_iX_j=\sum\delta\binom{i,i_2 \dots i_m }{j,j_2 \dots j_m}X_iX_j[D_{i_2}X_{j_2}]\cdots [D_{i_m}X_{j_m}].$

Since for any ${1\leq p,k,l\leq n}$

$\displaystyle D_k\tilde X_l=\frac{D_kX_{l}}{|X|}-\frac{\sum_{p=1}^nX_pD_kX_pX_l}{|X|^3}$

$\displaystyle \sum_{i,j,i_2,j_2}\delta\binom{i,i_2 \dots i_m }{j,j_2 \dots j_m}X_iX_jX_pX_{j_2}D_{i_2}X_p=0$

because $\delta$ is skew-symmetric in $j,j_2$. Then

$\displaystyle (m-1)!T^{ij}_m(DX)X_iX_j=|X|^{m-1}\sum\delta\binom{i,i_2 \dots i_m }{j,j_2 \dots j_m}X_iX_j[D_{i_2}\tilde X_{j_2}]\cdots [D_{i_m}\tilde X_{j_m}].$

$=(m-1)!|X|^{m-1}T_m^{ij}(D\tilde X)X_iX_j=(m-1)!|X|^{m+1}T_m^{ij}(D\tilde X)\tilde X_i\tilde X_j.$

Applying the formula $(T^{ij}_m(\mathcal{A}))=[\mathcal{A}]_{m-1}I-T_{m-1}(\mathcal{A})\cdot \mathcal{A}$(Check [1] Propsition 1.2) and $(D\tilde X)\tilde X=0$, we get

$T^{ij}_m(DX)X_iX_j=|X|^{m+1}[D\tilde X]_{m-1}$

It follows from the result of Reilly, Remark 2.3(a), that

$\displaystyle mA_m[DX]=D_i[T^{ij}_mX_j]$

Suppose ${X}$ is a vector field normal to ${\partial \Omega}$, then

$\displaystyle m\int_\Omega [DX]_m=\int_{\partial \Omega} T^{ij}_m X_j\gamma_i=\int_{\partial \Omega}(X\cdot \gamma)^m[D\gamma]_{m-1}=\int_{\partial \Omega} (X\cdot \gamma)^m H_{m-1}(\partial \Omega)$

where ${\gamma}$ is the outer ward unit normal to ${\partial \Omega}$.

Remark: [1] R.C. Reilly, On the Hessian of a function and the curvatures of its graph., Michigan Math. J. 20 (1974) 373â€“383. doi:10.1307/mmj/1029001155.

[2] N. Trudinger, Apriori bounds for graphs with prescribed curvature.

We probably have to assume $DX$ is a symmetric matrix in order to use the formula of Reilly. Not sure about this.

### Unit normal to a radial graph over sphere

Consider $\Omega\subset \mathbb{S}^n$ is a domain in the sphere. $S$ is a radial graph over $\Omega$.

$\boldsymbol{F}(x)=\{v(x)x:x\in \Omega\}$

What is the unit normal to this radial graph?

Suppose $\{e_1,\cdots,e_n\}$ is a smooth local frame on $\Omega$. Let $\nabla$ be the covariant derivative on $\mathbb{S}^n$. Tangent space of $S$ consists of $\{\nabla_{e_i}\boldsymbol{F}\}_{i=1}^n$ which are

$\nabla_{e_i}\boldsymbol{F}=v(x)e_i+e_i(v)\cdot x$

In order to get the unit normal, we need some simplification. Let us assume $\{e_i\}$ are orthonormal basis of the tangent space of $\Omega$ and $\nabla v=e_1(v)e_1$. Then

$\nabla_{e_1}\boldsymbol{F}=v(x)e_1+e_1(v)x, \quad \nabla_{e_i}\boldsymbol{F}=v(x)e_i, \quad i\geq 2$

Then we obtain an orthonormal basis of the tangent of $S$

$\{\frac{1}{\sqrt{v^2+|\nabla v|^2}}\nabla_{e_1}\boldsymbol{F},\nabla_{e_2}\boldsymbol{F},\cdots,\nabla_{e_n}\boldsymbol{F}\}$

We are able to get the normal by projecting $x$ to this subspace

$\nu=x-\frac{1}{v^2+|\nabla v|^2}\langle x,\nabla_{e_1}\boldsymbol{F}\rangle\nabla_{e_1}\boldsymbol{F}=\frac{v^2x-v\nabla v}{v^2+|\nabla v|^2}.$

After normalization, the (outer)unit normal can be written

$\frac{vx-\nabla v}{\sqrt{v^2+|\nabla v|^2}}$

Remark: Guan, Bo and  Spruck, Joel. Boundary-value Problems on \mathbb{S}^n for Surfaces of Constant Gauss Curvature.

### One example of blowing up corner

Consider ${u(x,y)=\sqrt{x^2+y^4}}$ on ${\mathbb{R}^2_+=\{(x,y):x\geq 0, y\geq 0\}}$. Notify ${\mathbb{R}^2_+}$ has a corner at the origin and ${u}$ is not smooth at the origin. ${u\approx x}$ when ${x\geq y^2}$ and ${u\approx y^2}$ when ${x\leq y^2}$. We want to resolve ${u}$ by blowing up the origin through a map ${\beta}$. After blowing up, ${W}$ looks like the following picture.

Denote ${W=[\mathbb{R}^2_+,(0,0)]}$ and ${\beta:W\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2_+}$ is the blow down map. On ${W\backslash lb}$(near A), ${\beta}$ takes the form

$\displaystyle \beta_1(\xi_1,\eta_1)=(\xi_1^2,{\xi_1\eta_1})$

where ${\xi_1}$ is the boundary defining function for ff and ${\eta_1}$ is boundary defining function for rb. Similarly on ${W\backslash rb}$(near B), ${\beta}$ takes the form

$\displaystyle \beta_2(\xi_2,\eta_2)=(\xi_2\eta^2_2,\eta_2)$

where ${\xi_2}$ is a bdf for lb and ${\eta_2}$ is a bdf for ff. One can verify that ${\beta}$ is a diffeomorphism ${\mathring{W}\rightarrow \mathring{\mathbb{R}}^2_+}$. Let ${w=\beta^* u}$. Then ${w}$ is a polyhomogeneous conormal function on ${W}$. Its index can be denoted ${(E,F,H)}$ correspond to lb, ff and rb.

$\displaystyle E=\{(n,0)\}, F=\{(2n,0)\}, H=\{(2n,0)\}$

Suppose ${\pi_1}$ is the projection to ${x}$ coordinate. Consider ${f=\pi_1\circ \beta:W\rightarrow \mathbb{R}_+}$, ${f}$ is actually a ${b-}$fibration. Then the push forward map ${f_*}$ maps ${w}$ to a polyhomogeneous function on ${\mathbb{R}^+}$.

$\displaystyle f_*w=\pi_* u=\int_0^\infty u(x,y)dy$

In order to make ${u}$ is integrable, let us assume ${u}$ support ${x\leq 1}$ and ${y\leq 1}$. What is the index for ${f_* w}$ on ${\mathbb{R}^+}$?

$\displaystyle \int_0^1\sqrt{x^2+y^4}dy=\int_0^{\sqrt{x}}\sqrt{x^2+y^4}dy+\int_{\sqrt{x}}^1\sqrt{x^2+y^4}dy$

For the first integral, letting ${y^2/x=t}$

$\displaystyle \int_0^{\sqrt{x}}\sqrt{x^2+y^4}dy=x\sqrt{x}\int_0^1\sqrt{1+t^4}dt=c_0x\sqrt{x}$

For the second integral, letting ${x/y^2=t}$

$\displaystyle \int_{\sqrt{x}}^1\sqrt{x^2+y^4}dy=\frac{1}{2}x\sqrt{x}\int_x^1t^{-\frac{5}{2}}\sqrt{t^2+1}dt$

Since the Taylor series

$\displaystyle \sqrt{1+t^2}=1+\frac{1}{2}t^2-\frac{1}{8}t^4+\cdots,\quad \text{for }|t|<1$

Consequently

$\displaystyle \int_{\sqrt{x}}^1\sqrt{x^2+y^4}dy=a_0+a_1x+a_2x\sqrt{x}+\cdots$

Combining all the above analysis, the index for ${f_*w}$ is ${\{(n,0)\}\cup \{\frac{n}{2},0\}}$

From another point of view, the vanishing order of ${f}$ on each boundary hypersurface of ${W}$ are ${e_f(lb)=1}$, ${e_f(\text{ff})=2}$ and ${e_f(rb)=0}$. ${f}$ maps lb and ff to the boundary of ${\mathbb{R}^+}$. Therefore the index of ${f_*w}$ is contained in

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{e_f(lb)}E\overline{\cup}\frac{1}{e_f(\text{ff})}F=E\overline{\cup}\frac{1}{2}F$

Remark: Daniel Grieser, Basics of ${b-}$Calculus.

### Bach flat four dimensional manifold and sigma2 functional

We want to find the necessary condition of being the critical points of ${\int\sigma_2}$ on four dimensional manifold.

1. Preliminary

Suppose ${(M^n,g)}$ is a Riemannian manifold with ${n=4}$. ${P_g}$ is the Schouten tensor

$\displaystyle P_g=\frac{1}{n-2}\left(Ric-\frac{R}{2(n-1)}g\right)$

and denote ${J=\text{\,Tr\,} P_g}$. Define

$\displaystyle \sigma_2(g)=\frac{1}{2}[(\text{\,Tr\,} P_g)^2-|P_g|_g^2]$

$\displaystyle I_2(g)=\int_M \sigma_2(g)d\mu_g$

where ${|P|_g^2=\langle P,P\rangle_g}$. It is well known that ${I_2(g)}$ is conformally invariant.

Suppose ${g(t)=g+th}$ where ${h}$ is a symmetric 2-tensor. We want to calculate the first derivative of ${I_2(g(t))}$ at ${t=0}$. To that end, let us list some basic facts (see the book of Toppings). Firstly denote ${(\delta h)_j=-\nabla^i{h_{ij}}}$ the divergence operator and

$\displaystyle G(h)=h-\frac{1}{2}(\text{\,Tr\,} h) g$

$\displaystyle (\Delta_L h)_{ij}=(\Delta h)_{ij}-h_{ik}Ric_{jl}g^{kl}-h_{jk}Ric_{il}g^{kl}+2R_{ikjl}h^{kl}$

where ${\Delta_L}$ is the Lichnerowicz Laplacian. Then the first variation of Ricci curvature and scalar curvature are

$\displaystyle \dot{R}=\delta^2h-\Delta(\text{\,Tr\,} h)-\langle h,Ric\rangle \ \ \ \ \ (1)$

$\displaystyle \dot{Ric}=-\frac{1}{2}\Delta_Lh-\frac{1}{2}L_{(\delta G(h))^\sharp}g=-\frac{1}{2}\Delta_Lh-\frac{1}{2}L_{(\delta h)^\sharp}g-\frac{1}{2}Hess(\text{\,Tr\,} h)$

$\displaystyle =-\frac{1}{2}\Delta_Lh-d(\delta h)-\frac{1}{2}Hess(\text{\,Tr\,} h)$

where we were using upper dot to denote the derivative with respect to ${t}$.

2. First variation of the sigma2 functional

Lemma 1 ${(M^4,g)}$ is a critical point of ${I_2(g)}$ if and only if

$\displaystyle \Delta P-Hess(J)+2\mathring{Rm}(P)-2JP-|P|_g^2g=0 \ \ \ \ \ (2)$

where ${(\mathring{Rm}(P))_{ij}=R_{ikjl}P^{kl}}$.

Proof:

$\displaystyle \frac{d}{dt}\big|_{t=0} I_2(g(t))=\int_M J\dot J-\langle\dot P,P\rangle+\langle h,P\wedge P\rangle+\frac{1}{2}\sigma_2\text{\,Tr\,} h \,d\mu_g$

where ${(P\wedge P)_{ij}=P_{ik}P_{jl}g^{kl}}$. Since we have

$\displaystyle \int_M\langle P,\dot P\rangle\\ =\frac{1}{n-2}\int_M\langle P, \dot Ric-\dot Jg-Jh\rangle =\frac{1}{n-2}[\langle P, \dot Ric\rangle-\dot J J-J\langle h,P\rangle]$

$\displaystyle =\frac{1}{n-2}[-\frac{1}{2}\langle h,\Delta_L P\rangle+\langle h,Hess(J)\rangle-\frac{1}{2}\Delta J \text{\,Tr\,} h-\dot J J-J\langle h,P\rangle]$

Plugging this into the derivative of ${I_2}$ to get

$\displaystyle (n-2)\frac{d}{dt}\big|_{t=0} I_2(g(t))\\ =\int_M\frac{1}{2}\langle h,\Delta_L P\rangle-\langle h,Hess(J)\rangle+\frac{1}{2}\Delta J \text{\,Tr\,} h\\$

$\displaystyle \quad +(n-1)\dot J J+J\langle h,P\rangle+(n-2)\langle h,P\wedge P\rangle+\frac{n-2}{2}\sigma_2\text{\,Tr\,} h d\mu_g$

In order to simplify the above equation, we recall the definition of Lichnerowicz Laplacian ${\Delta_L}$

$\displaystyle (\Delta_LP)_{ij}=(\Delta P)_{ij}-2P_{ik}Ric_{jl}g^{kl}+2R_{ikjl}P^{kl}$

$\displaystyle =(\Delta P)_{ij}-2(n-2)P_{ik}P_{jl}g^{kl}-2JP_{ij}+2R_{ikjl}P^{kl}$

Apply (1) to get

$(n-1)\dot J J=\frac12J\dot R=\frac12J[\delta^2h-\Delta(\text{\,Tr\,} h)-\langle h,Ric\rangle]$
$=\frac{1}{2}[\langle h, Hess(J)\rangle-\text{\,Tr\,} h\Delta J-(n-2)J\langle h, P\rangle-J^2\text{\,Tr\,} h]$

Therefore we can simplify it to be

$\displaystyle (n-2)\frac{d}{dt}\big|_{t=0} I_2(g(t)) =\int_M\frac{1}{2}\langle h,\Delta P\rangle-\frac{1}{2}\langle h, Hess(J)\rangle+h^{ij}R_{ikjl}P^{kl}$

$\displaystyle -\frac{n-2}{2}J\langle h,P\rangle-\frac{1}{2} J^2 \text{\,Tr\,} h+\frac{n-2}{2}\sigma_2\text{\,Tr\,} h d\mu_g$

Let us denote ${(\mathring{Rm}(P))_{ij}=R_{ikjl}P^{kl}}$. Using the fact ${n=4}$ and the definition of ${\sigma_2}$,

$\displaystyle \frac{d}{dt}\big|_{t=0} I_2(g(t))=\frac{1}{4}\int_M\langle h,Q\rangle d\mu_g$

where

$\displaystyle Q=\Delta P-Hess(J)+2\mathring{Rm}(P)-2JP-|P|_g^2g$

$\Box$

Remark 1 It is easy to verify ${\text{\,Tr\,} Q=0}$, this is equivalent to say ${I_2}$ is invariant under conformal change. More precisely, letting ${h=2ug}$, then

$\displaystyle \frac{d}{dt}\big|_{t=0} I_2(g(t))=\frac{1}{4}\int_M\langle h,Q\rangle d\mu_g=\frac{1}{2}\int_M u\text{\,Tr\,} Q d\mu_g=0.$

Remark 2 If ${g}$ is an Einstein metric with ${Ric=2(n-1)\lambda g}$, then ${P=\lambda g}$, ${J=n\lambda}$ and

$\displaystyle \mathring{Rm}(P)=\lambda Ric=2(n-1)\lambda^2 g$

It is easy to verify that ${Q=0}$. In other words, Einstein metrics are critical points of ${I_2}$.

Are there any non Einstein metric which are critical points of ${I_2}$?

Here is one example. Suppose ${M=\mathbb{S}^2\times N}$, where ${\mathbb{S}^2}$ is the sphere with standard round metric and ${(N,g_N)}$ is a two dimensional compact manifolds with sectional curvature ${-1}$. ${M}$ is endowed with the product metric. We can prove ${Ric=g_{S^2}-g_N}$, ${P=\frac{1}{2}g_{S^2}-\frac{1}{2}g_N}$, ${J=0}$, ${\mathring{Rm}(P)=g_{prod}}$ and consequently ${Q=0}$.

Note that the above example is a locally conformally flat manifold. For this type of manifold, we have the following lemma which can say

Lemma 2 Suppose ${g}$ is locally conformally flat and ${Q=0}$, then

Proof: When ${g}$ is locally conformally flat,

$\displaystyle \mathring{Rm}(g)=JP+|P|_g^2g-2P\wedge P$

${Q=0}$ is equivalent to

$\displaystyle \Delta P-Hess(J)+|P|_g^2g-4P\wedge P=0$

Actually this is equivalent to the Bach tensor ${B}$ is zero. $\Box$

3. Another point of view

We have the Euler Characteristic formula for four dimensional manifolds

$\displaystyle 8\pi^2\chi(M)=\int_M (|W|_g^2+\sigma_2) d\mu_g$

therefore the critical points for ${\int_M \sigma_2d\mu_g}$ will be the same as the critical points of ${\int_M |W|_g^2d\mu_g}$. However, the functional

$\displaystyle g\rightarrow \int_M |W|_g^2d\mu_g$

is well studied by Bach. The critical points of this functional satisfy Bach tensor equal to 0.

$\displaystyle B_{ij}=\nabla^k\nabla^l W_{likj}+\frac{1}{2}Ric^{kl}W_{likj}$

Obviously, ${B=0}$ for Einstein metric, but not all Bach flat metrics are Einstein. For example ${B=0}$ for any locally conformally flat manifolds.

### Bubble functions under different setting

Bubble function can be defined either on $\mathbb{R}^n$, $\mathbb{S}^n$ or $\mathbb{B}^n$. For the following notations, $c_n$ will denote suitable constants which may be different from line to line.

• For every $\epsilon>0$ and  $\xi\in\mathbb{R}^n$, define

$\displaystyle u_{\epsilon,\xi}=c_n\left(\frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon^2+|x-\xi|^2}\right)^{\frac{n-2}{2}}$

It is well know that $-\Delta u= c_nu^{\frac{n+2}{n-2}}$. Moreover $(\mathbb{R}^n,u^{\frac{4}{n-2}}_{\epsilon,\xi}g_E)$ is isometric to the standard sphere minus one point.

• For any $a\in \mathbb{S}^n$ and $\lambda>0$ define

$\displaystyle\delta(a,\lambda)=c_n\left(\frac{\lambda}{\lambda^2+1+(\lambda^2-1)\cos d(a,x)}\right)^{\frac{n-2}{2}}$

where $d(a,x)$ is the geodesic distance of $a$ and $x$ on $\mathbb{S}^n$. Actually $\cos d(a,x)=a\cdot x$

• For each $p\in \mathbb{B}^{n+1}$, define $\delta_p(x):\mathbb{S}^n\to \mathbb{R}$ by

$\displaystyle\delta_p(x)=c_n\left(\frac{1-|p|^2}{|x+p|^2}\right)^{\frac{n-2}{2}}$

Both the second and third one satisfy

$\displaystyle \frac{4(n-1)}{n-2}\Delta_{\mathbb{S}^n}\delta-n(n-1)\delta+c_n\delta^{\frac{n-2}{n+2}}=0$

If we make $p=\frac{\lambda-1}{\lambda+1}a$, the third one will be changed to the second one.

To get the second one from the first one, let us deonte $\Phi_a:\mathbb{S}^n\to \mathbb{R}^n$ be the stereographic projection from point $a$. Then

$\displaystyle \delta(a,\lambda)\circ \Phi^{-1}_a=c_n\left(\frac{\lambda(1+|y|^2)}{\lambda^2|y|^2+1}\right)^{\frac{n-2}{2}}=c_nu_{\lambda,0}u_{1,0}^{-1}$

It should be able to see the third one from hyperbolic translation directly.

### Unique continuation property on the boundary

I am writing a theorem proved by Jin Zhiren in his thesis.

Suppose $\Omega$ is a smooth domain in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $x_0\in \partial \Omega$ and $u$ is a harmonic function in $\Omega$. If there exists $A, b>0$ such that

$\displaystyle |u(x)|\leq Ae^{-\frac{b}{|x-x_0|}}\quad x\in \Omega$

for $|x-x_0|$ small, then $u=0$. If $n=2$, the same conclusion holds for the solutions of a general second order linear elliptic equation.

A borderline example for this theorem is $u$ be the real part of $e^{-1/z^\alpha}$, $\alpha\in (0,1)$. $u$ is harmonic in the right half plane and $u\leq Ae^{-1/|x|^\alpha}$ and consequently $D^\beta u(0)=0$.

### Interior estimate for Monge Ampere equation

Suppose we have $u$ is a generalized solution of the Monge-Ampere equation

$\det(\nabla^2 u)=1 \text{ in } B_1\subset\mathbb{R}^n$

when $n=2$, Heinz proved

$|\nabla^2 u|_{B_{1/2}}\leq \sup_{B_1}u$

when $n\geq 3$, Pogorelov has a counter example. One can have a solution $u\in C^1(B_1)$, but $u\in C^{1,\beta}(B_1)$ for some $\beta\in (0,1)$. See his book The Minkowski Multidimensional Problem, on page 83.