We study local automorphisms of holomorphic Cartan geometries. This leads to classification results for compact complex manifolds admitting Cartan geometries. We prove that a compact Calabi-Yau manifold bearing a holomorphic Cartan geometry of algebraic type admits a finite unramified cover which is a complex torus.
We prove that any compact Kähler manifold bearing a holomorphic Cartan geometry contains a rational curve just when the Cartan geometry is inherited from a holomorphic Cartan geometry on a lower dimensional compact Kähler manifold.
We prove that the only Calabi--Yau projective manifolds which bear holomorphic Cartan geometries are precisely the abelian varieties. (Nous démontrons que les seules variétés projectives de Calabi--Yau qui possèdent des géométrie holomorphes de Cartan sont les variétés abéliennes.)
We prove that if a Calabi--Yau manifold $M$ admits a holomorphic Cartan geometry, then $M$ is covered by a complex torus. This is done by establishing the Bogomolov inequality for semistable sheaves on compact Kähler manifolds. We also classify all holomorphic Cartan geometries on rationally connected complex projective manifolds.
We introduce the concept of a branched holomorphic Cartan geometry. It generalizes to higher dimension the definition of branched (flat) complex projective structure on a Riemann surface introduced by Mandelbaum. This new framework is much more flexible than that of the usual holomorphic Cartan geometries. We show that all compact complex projective manifolds admit branched flat holomorphic projective structure. We also give an example of a non-flat branched holomorphic normal projective structure on a compact complex surface. It is known that no compact complex surface admits such a structure…
This is a survey paper dealing with holomorphic G-structures and holomorphic Cartan geometries on compact complex manifolds. Our emphasis is on the foliated case: holomorphic foliations with transverse (branched or generalized) holomorphic Cartan geometries.
In [DM] it was asked whether all flat holomorphic Cartan geometries (G,H) on a complex torus are translation invariant. We answer this affimatively under the assumption that the complex Lie group G is affine. More precisely, we show that every holomorphic Cartan geometry of type (G,H), with G a complex affine Lie group, on any complex torus is translation invariant.
This is largely a survey paper, dealing with Cartan geometries in the complex analytic category. We first remind some standard facts going back to the seminal works of F. Klein, E. Cartan and C. Ehresmann. Then we present the concept of a branched holomorphic Cartan geometry which was introduced by the authors in [BD]. It generalizes to higher dimension the notion of a branched (flat) complex projective structure on a Riemann surface introduced by Mandelbaum. This new framework is much more flexible than that of the usual holomorphic Cartan geometries (e.g. all compact complex projective manif…
Introducing the deformation theory of holomorphic Cartan geometries, we compute infinitesimal automorphisms and infinitesimal deformations. We also prove the existence of a semi-universal deformation of a holomorphic Cartan geometry.
We extend the notion of (branched) holomorphic Cartan geometry on a complex manifold to the context of Sasakian manifolds. Branched holomorphic Cartan geometries on Sasakian Calabi-Yau manifolds are investigated.
In this continuation of \cite{BDS}, we investigate the deformations of holomorphic Cartan geometries where the underlying complex manifold is allowed to move. The space of infinitesimal deformations of a flat holomorphic Cartan geometry is computed. We show that the natural forgetful map, from the infinitesimal deformations of a flat holomorphic Cartan geometry to the infinitesimal deformations of the underlying flat principal bundle on the topological manifold, is an isomorphism.
Let X be a compact connected Kaehler manifold such that the holomorphic tangent bundle TX is numerically effective. A theorem of Demailly, Peternell and Schenider says that there is a finite unramified Galois covering M --> X, a complex torus T, and a holomorphic surjective submersion f: M --> T, such that the fibers of f are Fano manifolds with numerically effective tangent bundle. A conjecture of Campana and Peternell says that the fibers of f are rational and homogeneous. Assume that X admits a holomorphic Cartan geometry. We prove that the fibers of f are rational homogeneous varieties. We…
Earlier we introduced and studied the concept of holomorphic {\it branched Cartan geometry}. We define here a foliated version of this notion; this is done in terms of Atiyah bundle. We show that any complex compact manifold of algebraic dimension $d$ admits, away from a closed analytic subset of positive codimension, a nonsingular holomorphic foliation of complex codimension $d$ endowed with a transversely flat branched complex projective geometry (equivalently, a ${\mathbb C}P^d$-geometry). We also prove that transversely branched holomorphic Cartan geometries on compact complex projective r…
We describe a complete system of invariants for 4-dimensional CR manifolds of CR dimension 1 and codimension 2 with Engel CR distribution by constructing an explicit canonical Cartan connection. We also investigate the relation between the Cartan connection and the normal form of the defining equation of an embedded Engel CR manifold.
We show that compact complex manifolds of algebraic dimension zero bearing a holomorphic Cartan geometry of algebraic type have infinite fundamental group. This generalizes the main Theorem in [DM] where the same result was proved for the special cases of holomorphic affine connections and holomorphic conformal structures.
We studied the axiom of anti-invariant 2-spheres and the axiom of co-holomorphic $(2n+1)$-spheres. We proved that a nearly Kählerian manifold satisfying the axiom of anti-invariant 2-spheres is a space of constant holomorphic sectional curvature. We also showed that an almost Hermitian manifold $M$ of dimension $2m\geq6$ satisfying the axiom of co-holomorphic $(2n+1)$-spheres for some $n,$ where $(1\leq n\leq m-1)$, the manifold $M$ has pointwise constant type $α$ if and only if $M$ has pointwise constant anti-holomorphic sectional curvature $α$.
We calculate relations on characteristic classes which are obstructions preventing closed Kähler manifolds from carrying holomorphic Cartan geometries. We apply these relations to give global constraints on the phase spaces of complex analytic determined and underdetermined systems of differential equations.
For compact complex manifolds with vanishing first Chern class that are compact torus principal bundles over Kähler manifolds, we prove that all holomorphic geometric structures on them, of affine type, are locally homogeneous. For a compact simply connected complex manifold in Fujiki class $\mathcal C$, whose dimension is strictly larger than the algebraic dimension, we prove that it does not admit any holomorphic rigid geometric structure, and also it does not admit any holomorphic Cartan geometry of algebraic type. We prove that compact complex simply connected manifolds in Fujiki class $\m…
We prove analogues for Cartan geometries of Gromov's major theorems on automorphisms of rigid geometric structures. The starting point is a Frobenius theorem, which says that infinitesimal automorphisms of sufficiently high order integrate to local automorphisms. Consequences include a stratification theorem describing the configuration of orbits for local Killing fields in a compact real-analytic Cartan geometry, and an open-dense theorem in the smooth case, which says that if there is a dense orbit, then there is an open, dense, locally homogeneus subset. Combining the Frobenius theorem with…
We pursue the study of holomorphic Cartan geometry with singularities. We introduce the notion of logarithmic Cartan geometry on a complex manifold, with polar part supported on a normal crossing divisor. In particular, we show that the push-forward of a Cartan geometry constructed using a finite Galois ramified covering is a logarithmic Cartan geometry (the polar part is supported on the ramification locus). We also study the specific case of the logarithmic Cartan geometry with the model being the complex affine space.
We study the Einstein-Dirac equation as well as the weak Killing equation on Riemannian spin manifolds with codimension one foliation. We prove that, for any manifold $M^n$ admitting real Killing spinors (resp. parallel spinors), there exist warped product metrics $\barη$ on $M^n \times {\mathbb R}$ such that $(M^n \times {\mathbb R}, \barη)$ admit Einstein spinors (resp. weak Killing spinors). To prove the result we split the Einstein-Dirac equation into evolution equations and constraints, by means of Cartan's frame formalism, and apply the local preservation property of constraints.
Since the celebrated work by Cartan, distributions with \nobreak{small} growth vector $(2,3,5)$ have been studied extensively. In the holomorphic setting, there is a natural correspondence between holomorphic $(2,3,5)$-distributions and nondegenerate lines on holomorphic contact manifolds of dimension 5. We generalize this correspondence to higher dimensions by studying nondegenerate lines on holomorphic contact manifolds and the corresponding class of distributions of small growth vector $(2m, 3m, 3m+2)$ for any positive integer $m$.
We show that if a generator of a differential Gerstenhaber algebra satisfies certain Cartan-type identities, then the corresponding Lie bracket is formal. Geometric examples include the shifted de Rham complex of a Poisson manifold and the subcomplex of differential forms on a symplectic manifold vanishing on a Lagrangian submanifold, endowed with the Koszul bracket. As a corollary we generalize a recent result by Hitchin on deformations of holomorphic Poisson manifolds.
We calculate the Spencer cohomology of the $(1,0)$ Poincaré superalgebras in six dimensions: with and without R-symmetry. As the cases of four and eleven dimensions taught us, we may read off from this calculation a Killing spinor equation which allows the determination of which geometries admit rigidly supersymmetric theories in this dimension. We prove that the resulting Killing spinors generate a Lie superalgebra and determine the geometries admitting the maximal number of such Killing spinors. They are divided in two branches. One branch consists of the lorentzian Lie groups with bi-invari…
The semi-classical data attached to stacks of algebroids in the sense of Kashiwara and Kontsevich are Maurer-Cartan elements on complex manifolds, which we call extended Poisson structures as they generalize holomorphic Poisson structures. A canonical Lie algebroid is associated to each Maurer-Cartan element. We study the geometry underlying these Maurer-Cartan elements in the light of Lie algebroid theory. In particular, we extend Lichnerowicz-Poisson cohomology and Koszul-Brylinski homology to the realm of extended Poisson manifolds; we establish a sufficient criterion for these to be finite…
In this paper we introduce and study a geometric heat flow to find Killing vector fields on closed Riemannian manifolds with positive sectional curvature. We study its various properties, prove the global existence of the solution of this flow, discuss its convergence and possible applications, and its relation to the Navier-Stokes equations on manifolds and Kazdan-Warner-Bourguignon-Ezin identity for conformal Killing vector fields. We also provide two new criterions on the existence of Killing vector fields. The similar flow to finding holomorphic vector fields on Kähler manifolds will be st…
We study the local Killing Lie algebra of meromorphic almost rigid geometric structures on complex manifolds. This leads to classification results for compact complex manifolds bearing holomorphic rigid geometric structures.
We consider finite deformations of the Hull--Strominger system. Starting from the heterotic superpotential, we identify complex coordinates on the off-shell parameter space. Expanding the superpotential around a supersymmetric vacuum leads to a third-order Maurer--Cartan equation that controls the moduli. The resulting complex effective action generalises that of both Kodaira--Spencer and holomorphic Chern--Simons theory. The supersymmetric locus of this action is described by an $L_3$ algebra.
Nirenberg and Spencer posed the question whether the germ of a compact complex submanifold in a complex manifold is determined by its infinitesimal neighborhood of finite order when the normal bundle is sufficiently positive. To study the problem for a larger class of submanifolds, including free rational curves, we reformulate the question in the setting of families of submanifolds and their infinitesimal neighborhoods. When the submanifolds have no nonzero vector fields, we prove that it is sufficient to consider only first-order neighborhoods to have an affirmative answer to the reformulate…
An answer to the question: Can, in general, the adoption of a given symmetry induce a further symmetry, which might be hidden at a first level? has been attempted in the context of differential geometry of locally homogeneous spaces. Based on E. Cartan's theory of moving frames, a methodology for finding all symmetries for any n dimensional locally homogeneous space is provided. The analysis is applied to 3 dimensional spaces, whereby the embedding of them into a 4 dimensional Lorentzian manifold is examined and special solutions to Einstein's field equations are recovered. The analysis is mai…
We describe the basic cohomology ring of the canonical holomorphic foliation on a moment-angle manifold, LVMB-manifold or any complex manifold with a maximal holomorphic torus action. Namely, we show that the basic cohomology has a description similar to the cohomology ring of a complete simplicial toric variety due to Danilov and Jurkiewicz. This settles a question of Battaglia and Zaffran, who previously computed the basic Betti numbers for the canonical holomorphic foliation in the case of a shellable fan. Our proof uses an Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequence argument; the key ingredient is t…
We consider several transformation groups of a locally conformally Kähler manifold and discuss their inter-relations. Among other results, we prove that all conformal vector fields on a compact Vaisman manifold which is neither locally conformally hyperkähler nor a diagonal Hopf manifold are Killing, holomorphic and that all affine vector fields with respect to the minimal Weyl connection of a locally conformally Kähler manifold which is neither Weyl-reducible nor locally conformally hyperkähler are holomorphic and conformal
For a closed Kähler manifold with a Hamiltonian action of a connected compact Lie group by holomorphic isometries, we construct a formal Frobenius manifold structure on the equivariant cohomology by exploiting a natural DGBV algebra structure on the Cartan model.
We prove that holomorphic normal projective connections on compact complex surfaces are flat. We show that a holomorphic torsion-free affine connection $\nabla$ on a compact complex surface is locally modelled on a translations-invariant affine connection on $\C^2$, except if $\nabla$ is a generic connection on a principal elliptic bundle over a Riemann surface of genus $g \geq 2$, with odd first Betti number. In the last case, the local Killing Lie algebra is of dimension one, generated by the fundamental vector field of the principal fibration.
Let $(M,g)$ be a compact Kähler manifold and $f$ a positive smooth function such that its Hamiltonian vector field $K = J\mathrm{grad}_g f$ for the Kähler form $ω_g$ is a holomorphic Killing vector field. We say that the pair $(g,f)$ is conformally Einstein-Maxwell Kähler metric if the conformal metric $\tilde g = f^{-2}g$ has constant scalar curvature. In this paper we prove a reductiveness result of the reduced Lie algebra of holomorphic vector fields for conformally Einstein-Maxwell Kähler manifolds, extending the Lichnerowicz-Matsushima Theorem for constant scalar curvature Kähler manifold…
We give a detailed account of the geometric correspondence between a smooth complex projective quadric hypersurface $\mathcal{Q}^n$ of dimension $n \geq 3$, and its twistor space $\mathbb{PT}$, defined to be the space of all linear subspaces of maximal dimension of $\mathcal{Q}^n$. Viewing complex Euclidean space $\mathbb{CE}^n$ as a dense open subset of $\mathcal{Q}^n$, we show how local foliations tangent to certain integrable holomorphic totally null distributions of maximal rank on $\mathbb{CE}^n$ can be constructed in terms of complex submanifolds of $\mathbb{PT}$. The construction is ill…
In the present work the local form of certain Calabi-Yau metrics possessing a local Hamiltonian Killing vector is described in terms of a single non linear equation. The main assumptions are that the complex $(3,0)$-form is of the form $e^{ik}\widetildeΨ$, where $\widetildeΨ$ is preserved by the Killing vector, and that the space of the orbits of the Killing vector is, for fixed value of the momentum map coordinate, a complex 4-manifold, in such a way that the complex structure of the 4-manifold is part of the complex structure of the complex 3-fold. The link with the solution generating techn…