Rigidity, sharp inequalities, and stability for $σ_2$-curvature

Abstract: Using classical conformal divergence identities with a variable reference curvature, we prove four main results. First, we establish a general mean-curvature estimate for conformal metrics on the round hemisphere with $A_g\in\overline{Γ<em>2<sup>+}$ and positive prescribed $H_2$ data. When $σ_2(A_g)=0$ and the boundary data are nonincreasing, the estimate yields rigidity, removing Case-Wang's pinching condition $\sup</em>ΣH_g\le 3\inf_ΣH_g$. For $n\ge 5$, the constant-data case also classifies the smooth critical metrics associated with their sharp $σ_2$ Sobolev trace conjecture. Second, within positive Einstein conformal classes, we extend the constant-$σ_2$ rigidity results of Viaclovsky and Gursky-Streets to nonincreasing prescribed data, including backgrounds with nonzero Weyl curvature for $n\ge 5$. Third, we extend Li-Li's spherical $σ_2/σ_1$ rigidity and Guan-Wang's sharp integral inequality to positive Einstein backgrounds, with the latter holding for $n\ge 5$ under positive scalar curvature. Fourth, we extend Frank-Peteranderl's spherical $σ_2$ stability to fixed nonround positive Einstein backgrounds in dimensions $n\ge 5$, retaining $H<sup>1$ and $W<sup>{1,4}$ control under positive scalar curvature.