A negative mass theorem for the 2-Torus

TL;DR

This paper proves that for a torus, the minimal Laplacian-mass in a conformal class is negative and can be achieved by specific metrics, revealing new geometric inequalities and properties of the Green function.

Contribution

It establishes a negative lower bound for the Laplacian-mass on tori and characterizes the metrics attaining this minimum, linking to sharp inequalities.

Findings

Laplacian-mass minimum is negative for tori.

Minimizers satisfy sharp Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev and Onofri inequalities.

Non-flat metrics can minimize the Laplacian-mass when the flat metric is elongated.

Abstract

For a closed surface M with metric g, the Robin mass m(p) at the point p is the value of the Green function G(p,q) at p=q after the logarithmic singularity has been removed. The Laplacian-mass is the average value of the Robin mass, minus the value of the Robin mass for the round sphere of the same area. The Laplacian-mass is a spectral invariant which is a natural analog of the ADM mass for asymptotically flat manifolds. We show that if M is a torus, then the minimum value of the Laplacian-mass on the conformal class of g is negative. It is attained by a (smooth) metric for which one gets a sharp logarithmic Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev inequality and Onofri-type inequality. If the flat metric in the conformal class is sufficiently long and thin, then the minimizer for the Laplacian-mass is non-flat.