An alternative proof of a rigidity theorem for the sharp Sobolev constant

Abstract

We provide a somewhat geometric proof of a rigidity theorem by M. Ledoux and C. Xia concerning complete manifolds with non-negative Ricci curvature supporting an Euclidean-type Sobolev inequality with (almost) best Sobolev constant. Using the same technique we also generalize Ledoux-Xia result to complete manifolds with asymptotically non-negative curvature.

11 pages. Corrected typos. Added a new result concerning rigidity of manifolds with asymptotically non-negative curvature