Équations du type Monge-Ampère sur les variétés Riemanniennes compactes, I

Let (V_n, g) be a C^∞ compact Riemannian manifold. For a suitable function on V_n, let us consider the change of metric: g′ = g + Hess(), and the function, as a ratio of two determinants, M() = ¦g′¦ ¦g¦⁻¹. Using the method of continuity, we first solve in C^∞ the problem: Log M() = λ + ƒ, λ > 0, ƒ ε C^∞. Then, under weak hypothesis on F, we solve the general equation: Log M() = F(P, ), F in C^∞(V_n × ¦α, β¦), using a method of iteration. Our study gives rise to an interesting a priori estimate on ¦¦, which does not occur in the complex case. This estimate should enable us to solve the equation above when λ 0, providing we can overcome difficulties related to the invertibility of the linearised operator. This open question will be treated in our next article.