In this article, we consider $L^{2}$ harmonic forms on a complete non-compact Riemannian manifold $X$ with a nonzero parallel form $ω$. The main result is that if $(X,ω)$ is a complete $G_{2}$- ( or $Spin(7)$-) manifold with a $d$(linear) $G_{2}$- (or $Spin(7)$-) structure form $ω$, the $L^{2}$ harmonic $2$-forms on $X$ will be vanish. As an application, we prove that the instanton equation with square integrable curvature on $(X,ω)$ only has trivial solution. We would also consider the Hodge theory on the principal $G$-bundle $E$ over $(X,ω)$.
We consider noncompact complete manifolds with Spin(9) holonomy and proved an one end result and a splitting type theorem under different conditions on the bottom of the spectrum. We proved that any harmonic functions with finite Dirichlet integral must be Cayley-harmonic, which allowed us to conclude an one end result. In the second part, we established a splitting type theorem by utilizing the Busemann function..
We prove that each special Lorentzian holonomy group (with the exception of those including the isotropy groups of Kähler symmetric spaces with rank greater than one) can be realized as the holonomy group of a globally hyperbolic Lorentzian manifold.
The local classification of conformally flat Lorentzian manifolds with special holonomy groups is obtained. The corresponding local metrics are certain extensions of Riemannian spaces of constant sectional curvature to Walker metrics.
We describe extrinsic hyperspheres and totally geodesic hypersurfaces in manifolds with special holonomy. In particular we prove the nonexistence of extrinsic hyperspheres in quaternion-Kaehler manifolds. We develop a new approach to extrinsic hyperspheres based on the classification of special Killing forms.
We introduce a notion of twisted pure spinor in order to characterize, in a unified way, all the special Riemannian holonomy groups just as a classical pure spinor characterizes the special Kähler holonomy. Motivated by certain curvature identities satisfied by manifolds admitting parallel twisted pure spinors, we also introduce the Clifford monopole equations as a natural geometric generalization of the Seiberg-Witten equations. We show that they restrict to the Seiberg-Witten equations in 4 dimensions, and that they admit non-trivial solutions on manifolds with special Riemannian holonomy.
In this paper we examine the structure of Riemannian manifolds with a special kind of Codazzi tensors. We use them to construct globally hyperbolic Lorentzian manifolds with complete Cauchy hypersurfaces for any weakly irreducible holonomy representation with parallel spinors, i.e. with a holonomy group which is a semidirect product between $\R^{n-2}$ and one of $\1, SU(k), Sp(1), G_2$ and $Spin(7)$.
Constructions of metrics with special holonomy by methods of exterior differential systems are reviewed and the interpretations of these construction as `flows' on hypersurface geometries are considered. It is shown that these hypersurface 'flows' are not generally well-posed for smooth initial data and counterexamples to existence are constructed.
We define a measure of spectral asymmetry for G_2 and Spin(7) manifolds. We show that this invariant can be computed in terms of characteristic classes and the covariant constant form defining the G_2 or Spin(7) structure.
We give a new, connected-sum-like construction of Riemannian metrics with special holonomy G_2 on compact 7-manifolds. The construction is based on a gluing theorem for appropriate elliptic partial differential equations. As a prerequisite, we also obtain asymptotically cylindrical Riemannian manifolds with holonomy SU(3) building up on the work of Tian and Yau. Examples of new topological types of compact 7-manifolds with holonomy G_2 are constructed using Fano 3-folds.
We investigate geometric properties of indecomposable but non-irreducible Lorentzian manifolds, which are total spaces of circle bundles. We investigate under which conditions these manifolds are complete and give examples which fulfill the obtained conditions. In particular we investigate the Einstein equation for these spaces yielding examples for complete compact Ricci flat Lorentzian manifolds and manifolds with timelike Killing vector fields. Finally we study their holonomy and obtain in particular complete examples for Lorentzian manifolds with holonomy of so called type 4.
The problem of classification of connected holonomy groups (equivalently of holonomy algebras) for pseudo-Riemannian manifolds is open. The classification of Riemannian holonomy algebras is a classical result. The classification of Lorentzian holonomy algebras was obtained recently. In the present paper weakly-irreducible not irreducible subalgebras of $\su(1,n+1)$ ($n\geq 0$) are classified. Weakly-irreducible not irreducible holonomy algebras of pseudo-Kählerian and special pseudo-Kählerian manifolds are classified. An example of metric for each possible holonomy algebra is given. This gives…
In this article, we introduce and study the notion of a complete special holonomy manifold $(X,ω)$ which is given by a global perturbation potential function, i.e., there is a function $f$ on $X$ such that $ω'=ω-\mathcal{L}_{\nabla f}ω$ is sufficiently small in $L^{\infty}$-norm. We establish some vanishing theorems on the $L^{2}$ harmonic forms under some conditions on the global perturbation potential function.
We study the full holonomy group of Lorentzian manifolds with a parallel null line bundle. We prove several results that are based on the classification of the restricted holonomy groups of such manifolds and provide a construction method for manifolds with disconnected holonomy which starts from a Riemannian manifold and a properly discontinuous group of isometries. Most of our examples are quotients of pp-waves with disconnected holonomy and without parallel vector field. Furthermore, we classify the full holonomy groups of solvable Lorentzian symmetric spaces and of Lorentzian manifolds wit…
We study compact Sasakian manifolds whose Tondeur connection has holonomy group either trivial or contained in Sp(n). We show that the first condition forces the manifold to be a compact quotient of the Heisenberg Lie group, while in the simply-connected case a Sasakian structure has the holonomy of the Tondeur connection contained in Sp(n) if and only if there exists a transverse hypercomplex structure. This latter result is the "Sasakian version" of a theorem of Verbitsky.
A theorem of Lawson and Simons states that the only stable minimal submanifolds in complex projective spaces are complex submanifolds. We generalize their result to the cases of quaternionic and octonionic projective spaces. Our approach gives a unified viewpoint towards conformal and projective geometries.
Let G be one of the Ricci-flat holonomy groups SU(n), Sp(n), Spin(7) or G_2, and M a compact manifold of dimension 2n, 4n, 8 or 7, respectively. We prove that the natural map from the moduli space of torsion-free G-structures on M to the moduli space of Ricci-flat metrics is open, and that the image is a smooth manifold. For the exceptional cases G = Spin(7) and G_2 we extend the result to asymptotically cylindrical manifolds.
In this article, we summarize our recent results on the study of manifolds with special holonomy via the Frölicher-Nijenhuis bracket. This bracket enables us to define the Frölicher-Nijenhuis cohomologies which are analogues of the $d^c$ and the Dolbeault cohomologies in Kähler geometry, and assigns an $L_\infty$-algebra to each associative submanifold. We provide several concrete computations of the Frölicher-Nijenhuis cohomology.
This paper is a continuation of math.DG/0408005. We first construct special Lagrangian submanifolds of the Ricci-flat Stenzel metric (of holonomy SU(n)) on the cotangent bundle of S^n by looking at the conormal bundle of appropriate submanifolds of S^n. We find that the condition for the conormal bundle to be special Lagrangian is the same as that discovered by Harvey-Lawson for submanifolds in R^n in their pioneering paper. We also construct calibrated submanifolds in complete metrics with special holonomy G_2 and Spin(7) discovered by Bryant and Salamon on the total spaces of appropriate bun…
We characterise simply-connected biquotients which potentially admit metrics of holonomy G_2. We prove that there are at most three real homotopy types of rationally elliptic such manifolds---all of them being formal. In the course of this examination we classify rationally elliptic homotopy types and characterise 7-dimensional simply-connected biquotients from a rational point of view. Moreover, we also investigate further manifolds of special holonomy, like manifolds of holonomy Spin(7) or Sp(n)\Sp(1) in special situations provided by rational ellipticity or geometric formality.
We study the uniqueness of minimal submanifolds and the stability of the mean curvature flow in several well-known model spaces of manifolds of special holonomy. These include the Stenzel metric on the cotangent bundle of spheres, the Calabi metric on the cotangent bundle of complex projective spaces, and the Bryant--Salamon metrics on vector bundles over certain Einstein manifolds. In particular, we show that the zero sections, as calibrated submanifolds with respect to their respective ambient metrics, are unique among compact minimal submanifolds and are dynamically stable under the mean cu…
We define intrinsic torsion in generalised geometry and use it to introduce a new notion of generalised special holonomy. We then consider generic warped supersymmetric flux compactifications of M theory and Type II of the form $\mathbb{R}^{D-1,1}\times M$. Using the language of $E_{d(d)}\times\mathbb{R}^+$ generalised geometry, we show that, for $D\geq 4$, preserving minimal supersymmetry is equivalent to the manifold $M$ having generalised special holonomy and list the relevant holonomy groups. We conjecture that this result extends to backgrounds preserving any number of supersymmetries. As…
In this paper we review $G_2$ and $Spin(7)$ geometries in relation with a special type of metric structure which we call warped-like product metric. We present a general ansatz of warped-like product metric as a definition of warped-like product. Considering fiber-base decomposition, the definition of warped-like product is regarded as a generalization of multiply-warped product manifolds, by allowing the fiber metric to be non block diagonal. For some special cases, we present explicit example of $(3+3+2)$ warped-like product manifolds with $Spin(7)$ holonomy of the form $M=F\times B$, where …
Given a generic 2-plane field on a 5-dimensional manifold we consider its (3,2)-signature conformal metric [g] as defined in math.DG/0406400. Every conformal class [g] obtained in this way has very special conformal holonomy: it must be contained in the split-real-form of the exceptional group G_2. In this note we show that for special 2-plane fields on 5-manifolds the conformal classes [g] have the Fefferman-Graham ambient metrics which, contrary to the general Fefferman-Graham metrics given as a formal power series, can be written in an explicit form. We propose to study the relations betwee…
The problem of classification of connected holonomy groups (equivalently of holonomy algebras) for pseudo-Riemannian manifolds is open. The classification of Riemannian holonomy algebras is a classical result. The classification of Lorentzian holonomy algebras was obtained recently. In the present paper weakly-irreducible not irreducible subalgebras of $\su(1,n+1)$ ($n\geq 0$) are classified. Weakly-irreducible not irreducible holonomy algebras of pseudo-Kählerian and special pseudo-Kählerian manifolds are classified. An example of metric for each possible holonomy algebra is given. This gives…
We prove that energy minimizing Yang-Mills connections on a compact $G_{2}$-manifold has holonomy equal to $G_{2}$ are $G_{2}$-instantons, subject to an extra condition on the curvature. Furthermore, we show that energy minimizing connections on a compact Calabi-Yau $3$-fold has holonomy equal to $SU(3)$ subject to a similar condition are holomorphic.
It was proven by Hitchin that any solution of his evolution equations for a half-flat SU(3)-structure on a compact six-manifold M defines an extension of M to a seven-manifold with holonomy in G_2. We give a new proof, which does not require the compactness of M. More generally, we prove that the evolution of any half-flat G-structure on a six-manifold M defines an extension of M to a Ricci-flat seven-manifold N, for any real form G of SL(3,C). If G is noncompact, then the holonomy group of N is a subgroup of the noncompact form G_2^* of G_2^C. Similar results are obtained for the extension of…
It is known that the hard Lefschetz action, together with Kähler identities for Kähler (resp. hyperkähler) manifolds, determines a $\mathfrak{su}(1,1)_{sup}$ (resp. $\mathfrak{sp}(1,1)_{sup}$) Lie superalgebra action on differential forms. In this paper, we explain the geometric origin of this action, and we also generalize it to manifolds with other holonomy groups. For semi-flat Calabi-Yau (resp. hyperkähler) manifolds, these symmetries can be enlarged to a $\mathfrak{so}(2,2)_{sup}$ (resp. $\mathfrak{su}(2,2)_{sup}$) action.
Our aim is to support the choice of two remarkable connections with torsion in a 3-Sasakian manifold, proving that, in contrast to the Levi-Civita connection, the holonomy group in the homogeneous cases reduces to a proper subgroup of the special orthogonal group, of dimension considerably smaller. We realize the computations of the holonomies in a unified way, by using as a main algebraic tool a nonassociative structure, that one of symplectic triple system.
We consider cones over manifolds admitting real Killing spinors and instanton equations on connections on vector bundles over these manifolds. Such cones are manifolds with special (reduced) holonomy. We generalize the scalar ansatz for a connection proposed by Harland and Nolle in such a way that instantons are parameterized by constrained matrix-valued functions. Our ansatz reduces instanton equations to a matrix model equations which can be further reduced to Newtonian mechanics with particle trajectories obeying first-order gradient flow equations. Generalizations to Kaehler-Einstein manif…
We prove that, for M theory or type II, generic Minkowski flux backgrounds preserving $\mathcal{N}$ supersymmetries in dimensions $D\geq4$ correspond precisely to integrable generalised $G_{\mathcal{N}}$ structures, where $G_{\mathcal{N}}$ is the generalised structure group defined by the Killing spinors. In other words, they are the analogues of special holonomy manifolds in $E_{d(d)} \times\mathbb{R}^+$ generalised geometry. In establishing this result, we introduce the Kosmann-Dorfman bracket, a generalisation of Kosmann's Lie derivative of spinors. This allows us to write down the internal…
The exceptional holonomy groups are G2 in 7 dimensions, and Spin(7) in 8 dimensions. Riemannian manifolds with these holonomy groups are Ricci-flat. This is a survey paper on constructions for compact 7- and 8-manifolds with holonomy G2 and Spin(7). The simplest such constructions work by using techniques from complex geometry and Calabi-Yau analysis to resolve the singularities of a torus orbifold T^7/G or T^8/G, for G a finite group preserving a flat G2 or Spin(7)-structure on T^7 or T^8. There are also more complicated constructions which begin with a Calabi-Yau manifold or orbifold. All th…
We show how certain diffeomorphism-invariant functionals on differential forms in dimensions 6,7 and 8 generate in a natural way special geometrical structures in these dimensions: metrics of holonomy G2 and Spin(7), metrics with weak holonomy SU(3) and G2, and a new and unexplored example in dimension 8. The general formalism becomes a practical tool for calculating homogeneous or cohomogeneity one examples, and we illustrate this with some newly discovered cases of Spin(7) and G2 metrics.
We classify all cohomogeneity one manifolds with principal orbit Q^111=SU(2)^3/U(1)^2 or M^110=(SU(3) x SU(2))/(SU(2) x U(1)) whose holonomy is contained in Spin(7). Various metrics with different kinds of singular orbits can be constructed by our methods. It turns out that the holonomy of our metrics is automatically SU(4) and that they are asymptotically conical. Moreover, we investigate the smoothness of the metrics at the singular orbit.
Starting with a non-abelian gerbe represented by a non-abelian differential cocycle, with values in a given crossed-module, this paper explicitly calculates a formula for the derivative of the associated surface holonomy of squares mapped into the base manifold; with spheres later considered as a special case. While the definitions in this paper used for gerbes, their connections, and the induced holonomy will initially be simplicial, translations into a cubical setting will be provided to aide in explicit coordinate-based calculations. While there are many previously published results on the …
We consider immersions of a Riemann surface into a manifold with $G_2$-holonomy and give criteria for them to be conformal and harmonic, in terms of an associated Gauss map.
The aim of this paper is to calculate the eta invariants and the dimensions of the spaces of harmonic spinors of an infinite family of closed flat manifolds. It consits of some flat manifolds M with cyclic holonomy groups.
We classify two-symmetric Lorentzian manifolds using methods of the theory of holonomy groups. These manifolds are exhausted by a special type of pp-waves and, like the symmetric Cahen-Wallach spaces, they have commutative holonomy.
We can define the ``volume'' $V$ for Hermitian connections on a Hermitian complex line bundle over a Riemannian manifold $X$, which can be considered to be the ``mirror'' of the standard volume for submanifolds. This is called the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action in physics. In this paper, (1) we introduce the negative gradient flow of $V$, which we call the line bundle mean curvature flow. Then, we show the short-time existence and uniqueness of this flow. When $X$ is Kähler, we relate the negative gradient of $V$ to the angle function and deduce the mean curvature for Hermitian metrics on a ho…
We investigate parallel submanifolds of a Riemannian symmetric space $N$. The special case of a symmetric submanifold has been investigated by many authors before and is well understood. We observe that there is an intrinsic property of the second fundamental form which distinguishes full symmetric submanifolds from arbitrary full parallel submanifolds of $N$, usually called "1-fullness of $M$". Furthermore, for every parallel submanifold $M$ of $N$ we consider the pullback bundle $TN|M$ with its induced connection, which admits a distinguished parallel subbundle $osc M$, usually called the "s…
Manifolds with exceptional holonomy play an important role in string theory, supergravity and M-theory. It is explained how one can find the holonomy algebra of an arbitrary Riemannian or Lorentzian manifold. Using the de~Rham and Wu decompositions, this problem is reduced to the case of locally indecomposable manifolds. In the case of locally indecomposable Riemannian manifolds, it is known that the holonomy algebra can be found from the analysis of special geometric structures on the manifold. If the holonomy algebra $\mathfrak{g}\subset\mathfrak{so}(1,n-1)$ of a locally indecomposable Loren…
We construct explicit left invariant quaternionic contact structures on Lie groups with zero and non-zero torsion, and with non-vanishing quaternionic contact conformal curvature tensor, thus showing the existence of quaternionic contact manifolds not locally quaternionic contact conformal to the quaternionic sphere. We present a left invariant quaternionic contact structure on a seven dimensional non-nilpotent Lie group, and show that this structure is locally quaternionic contact conformal to the flat quaternionic contact structure on the quaternionic Heisenberg group. On the product of a se…
There are three types of Dolbeault complexes arising from representations of holonomy group on a Riemannian manifold, two of which are dual to each other. Such a complex is elliptic if and only if its generator satisfies an algebraic condition. As applications, we give all Dolbeault complexes on a compact Riemannian manifold with exceptional holonomy. Each cohomology can be described by harmonic forms.
On a Lorentzian manifold the existence of a parallel null vector field implies certain constraint conditions on the induced Riemannian geometry of a space-like hypersurface. We will derive these constraint conditions and, conversely, show that every real analytic Riemannian manifold satisfying the constraint conditions can be extended to a Lorentzian manifold with a parallel null vector field. Similarly, every parallel null spinor on a Lorentzian manifold induces an imaginary generalised Killing spinor on a space-like hypersurface. Then, based on the fact that a parallel spinor field induces a…
We construct metrics with the holonomy group SU(2) on the tangent bundles of weighted complex projective lines and give a geometric description of the moduli space of special Kahler metrics on a K3-surface in the neighborhood of the flat orbifold $T^4/Z_3$.
This paper analyses the parabolic geometries generated by a free $n$-distribution in the tangent space of a manifold. It shows that certain holonomy reductions of the associated normal Tractor connections, imply preferred connections with special properties, along with Riemannian or sub-Riemannian structures on the manifold. It constructs examples of these holonomy reductions in the simplest cases. The main results, however, lie in the free 3-distributions. In these cases, there are normal Fefferman constructions over CR and Lagrangian contact structures corresponding to holonomy reductions to…
We prove that the Cauchy problem for parallel null vector fields on smooth Lorentzian manifolds is well posed. The proof is based on the derivation and analysis of suitable hyperbolic evolution equations given in terms of the Ricci tensor and other geometric objects. Moreover, we classify Riemannian manifolds satisfying the constraint conditions for this Cauchy problem. It is then possible to characterise certain holonomy reductions of globally hyperbolic manifolds with parallel null vector in terms of flow equations for Riemannian special holonomy metrics. For exceptional holonomy groups thes…
IAs is well known, when D6 branes wrap a special lagrangian cycle on a non compact CY 3-fold in such a way that the internal string frame metric is Kahler there exists a dual description, which is given in terms of a purely geometrical eleven dimensional background with an internal metric of $G_2$ holonomy. It is also known that when D6 branes wrap a coassociative cycle of a non compact $G_2$ manifold in presence of a self-dual two form strength the internal part of the string frame metric is conformal to the $G_2$ metric and there exists a dual description, which is expressed in terms of a pu…
