Two-channel global compactness and existence for critical GJMS equations on hyperbolic space

Abstract

Let $P_m$ be the GJMS operator of order $2m$ on real hyperbolic space, $n>2m$. For the critical equation \[ P_m u+a(x)u=|u|^{4m/(n-2m)}u \quad\text{on }\HH^n, \] where $0\leq a\in L^{n/(2m)}(\HH^n)$, we prove a global compactness theorem for arbitrary, possibly sign-changing Palais--Smale sequences. Every such sequence decomposes into a solution of the equation, finitely many Euclidean profiles concentrating at vanishing scales, finitely many solutions of the limiting GJMS equation transported to infinity by divergent hyperbolic isometries, and a remainder converging strongly in the energy space. The quadratic form, the $L^{2n/(n-2m)}$ norm and the energy split along this decomposition. The main new point is the treatment of the half-space profiles arising at the conformal boundary of the Poincar\'e ball. After conformal lifting, they are precisely finite-energy solutions on $\HH^n$ escaping at a fixed hyperbolic scale; hence they do not form a third type of profile. For sign-changing sequences, Moreau's polar-cone decomposition and positivity of the limiting Green operators give a sharp two-quantum energy bound and a compactness range below the two-bubble level. As an application, we obtain one solution for sufficiently concentrated nonnegative potentials and, under an additional smallness condition, a second solution.