Qualitative properties for solutions to conformally invariant fourth order critical systems

Abstract: We study qualitative properties for nonnegative solutions to a conformally invariant coupled system of fourth order equations involving critical exponents. For solutions defined in the punctured space, there exist essentially two cases to analyze. If the origin is a removable singularity, we prove that non-singular solutions are rotationally invariant and weakly positive. More precisely, they are the product of a fourth order spherical solution by a unit vector with nonnegative coordinates. If the origin is a non-removable singularity, we show that the solutions are radially symmetric and strongly positive. Furthermore, using a Pohozaev-type invariant, we prove the non-existence of semi-singular solutions, that is, all components equally blow-up in the neighborhood of origin. Namely, they are classified as multiples of the Emden--Fowler solution. Our results are natural generalizations of the famous classification due to [L. A. Caffarelli, B. Gidas and J. Spruck, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. (1989)] on the classical singular Yamabe equation.