Optimal geometric inequalities and fully nonlinear conformal flows

Abstract

We establish sharp Sobolev-type geometric inequalities on $\mathbb{S}^n$ involving the total $\sigma_k$-curvatures $\int_{\mathbb{S}^n}\sigma_k(g)\,dv_g$. These results extend the optimal inequalities of Guan--Wang~\cite{GWDuke} from the cone $\mathcal{C}_k$ to the strictly larger cone $\mathcal{C}_{k-1}$, thereby enlarging the range of admissible conformal metrics. Our approach is variational and is implemented through a fully nonlinear conformal flow. Working in $\mathcal{C}_{k-1}$ introduces substantial analytic difficulties; in particular, one must obtain $C^2$ a priori estimates while simultaneously verifying that the flow remains parabolic. We resolve these issues via a carefully designed test function and by applying the maximum principle to the maximal eigenvalue of the Hessian matrix. As applications, we solve two open problems in dimensions 3 and 4. Finally, we give examples to show that these inequalities cannot be extended to $\mathcal{C}_{k-2}$.