Optimal Sobolev inequalities of high order with $L^2$-remainder

Abstract: We investigate the validity of the optimal higher-order Sobolev inequality $H_k^2(M^n)\hookrightarrow L^{\frac{2n}{n-2k}}(M^n)$ on a closed Riemannian manifold when the remainder term is the $L^2-$norm. Unlike the case $k=1$, the optimal inequality does not hold in general for $k>1$. We prove conditions for the validity and non-validity that depend on the geometry of the manifold. Our conditions are sharp when $k=2$ and in small dimensions.