We construct a model space $C(\gsp(\bR^{2n}))$ for the variety of Abelian simply transitive groups of affine transformations of type ${\rm Sp}(\bR^{2n})$. The model is stratified and its principal stratum is a Zariski-open subbundle of a natural vector bundle over the Grassmannian of Lagrangian subspaces in $\bR^{2n}$. \noindent Next we show that every flat special Kähler manifold may be constructed locally from a holomorphic function whose third derivatives satisfy some algebraic constraint. In particular global models for flat special Kähler manifolds with constant cubic form correspond to a subvariety of $C(\gsp(\bR^{2n}))$.
Every simply connected and connected solvable Lie group $G$ admits a simply transitive action on a nilpotent Lie group $H$ via affine transformations. Although the existence is guaranteed, not much is known about which Lie groups $G$ can act simply transitive on which Lie groups $H$. So far the focus was mainly on the case where $G$ is also nilpotent, leading to a characterization depending only on the corresponding Lie algebras and related to the notion of post-Lie algebra structures. This paper studies two different aspects of this problem. First, we give a method to check whether a given ac…
Holomorphically homogeneous CR real hypersurfaces $M^3 \subset \mathbb{C}^2$ were classified by Élie Cartan in 1932. In the next dimension, we complete the classification of simply-transitive Levi non-degenerate hypersurfaces $M^5 \subset \mathbb{C}^3$ using a novel Lie algebraic approach independent of any earlier classifications of abstract Lie algebras. Central to our approach is a new coordinate-free formula for the fundamental (complexified) quartic tensor. Our final result has a unique (Levi-indefinite) non-tubular model, for which we demonstrate geometric relations to planar equi-affine…
To any connected and simply connected nilpotent Lie group N, one can associate its group of affine transformations Aff(N). In this paper, we study simply transitive actions of a given nilpotent Lie group G on another nilpotent Lie group N, via such affine transformations. We succeed in translating the existence question of such a simply transitive affine action to a corresponding question on the Lie algebra level. As an example of the possible use of this translation, we then consider the case where dim(G)=dim(N) less than 6. Finally, we specialize to the case of abelian simply transitive affi…
In this paper, we construct simply connected symplectic Calabi-Yau 6-manifolds by applying Gompf's symplectic fiber sum operation along $T^4$. Using our construction, we also produce symplectic non-Kähler Calabi-Yau 6-manifolds with fundamental group $\Z$. In this paper, we also produce the first examples of simply connected symplectic Calabi-Yau and non-Calabi-Yau 6-manifolds via coisotropic Luttinger surgery.
We classify the finite type (in the sense of E. Cartan theory of prolongations) subalgebras $\mathfrak{h}\subset\mathfrak{sp}(V)$, where $V$ is the symplectic 4-dimensional space, and show that they satisfy $\mathfrak{h}^{(k)}=0$ for all $k>0$. Using this result, we reduce the problem of classification of graded transitive finite-dimensional Lie algebras $\mathfrak{g}$ of symplectic vector fields on $V$ to the description of graded transitive finite-dimensional subalgebras of the full prolongations $\mathfrak{p}_1^{(\infty)}$ and $\mathfrak{p}_2^{(\infty)}$, where $\mathfrak{p}_1$ and $\mathfr…
We construct a simply connected compact manifold which has complex and symplectic structures but does not admit Kähler metrics, in the lowest possible dimension where this can happen, that is, dimension 6. Such a manifold is automatically formal and has even odd-degree Betti numbers but it does not satisfy the Lefschetz property for any symplectic form.
We prove that the Ricci flow g(t) starting at any metric on the euclidean space that is invariant by a transitive nilpotent Lie group N, can be obtained by solving an ODE for a curve of nilpotent Lie brackets. By using that this ODE is the negative gradient flow of a homogeneous polynomial, we obtain that g(t) is type-III, and, up to pull-back by time-dependent diffeomorphisms, that g(t) converges to the flat metric, and the rescaling |R(g(t))|g(t) converges smoothly to a Ricci soliton, uniformly on compact sets. The Ricci soliton limit is also invariant by some transitive nilpotent Lie group,…
A transitive smooth action of a connected Lie group G on a manifold M is called almost primitive (resp. primitive) if G doesn't contain any proper subgroup (resp. any proper normal subgroup) whose induced action on M is transitive as well. The aim of the present work is to investigate some combinatory properties of symplectic actions of completely solvable Lie groups.
We study the control system of a Riemannian manifold $M$ of dimension $n$ rolling on the sphere $S^n$. The controllability of this system is described in terms of the holonomy of a vector bundle connection which, we prove, is isomorphic to the Riemannian holonomy group of the cone $C(M)$ of $M$. Using Berger's list, we reduce the possible holonomies to a few families. In particular, we focus on the cases where the holonomy is the unitary and the symplectic group. In the first case, using the rolling formalism, we construct explicitly a Sasakian structure on $M$; and in the second case, we cons…
We define higher genus Gromov-Witten invariants and establish a mathematical theory of sigma model coupled with gravity over any semi-positive symplectic manifolds. As applications, we verify the stablizing conjecture of symplectic 4-manifolds for simply connected elliptic surfaces and construct smooth 6-manifolds admitting infinitely many deformation classes of symplectic structures.
We determine the isomorphism classes of symmetric symplectic manifolds of dimension at least 4 which are connected, simply-connected and have a curvature tensor which has only one non-vanishing irreducible component -- the Ricci tensor.
The main result of this article provides a characterization of reductive homogeneous spaces equipped with some geometric structure (non necessarily pseudo-Riemannian) in terms of the existence of certain connection. The result generalizes the well-known result of Ambrose and Singer for Riemannian homogeneous spaces, as well as its extensions for other geometries found in the literature. The manifold must be connected and simply connected, the connection has to be complete and has to satisfy a set of geometric partial differential equations. If the connection is not complete or the manifold is …
We compute the Yamabe invariant for a class of symplectic 4-manifolds of general type obtained by taking the rational blowdown of Kahler surfaces. In particular, for any point on the half-Noether line we exhibit a simply connected minimal symplectic manifold for which we compute the Yamabe invariant.
$k$-symplectic manifolds are a convenient framework to study classical field theories and they are a generalization of polarized symplectic manifolds. This paper focus on the existence and the properties of left invariant $k$-symplectic structures on Lie groups having a bi-invariant pseudo-Riemannian metric. We show that compact semi-simple Lie groups and a large class of Lie groups having a bi-invariant pseudo-Riemannian metric does not carry any left invariant $k$-symplectic structure. This class contains the oscillator Lie groups which are the only solvable non abelian Lie groups having a b…
We review topological properties of Kähler and symplectic manifolds, and of their odd-dimensional counterparts, coKähler and cosymplectic manifolds. We focus on formality, Lefschetz property and parity of Betti numbers, also distinguishing the simply-connected case (in the Kähler/symplectic situation) and the $b_1=1$ case (in the coKähler/cosymplectic situation).
We classify pairs $(M,G)$ where $M$ is a $3$--dimensional simply connected smooth manifold and $G$ a Lie group acting on $M$ transitively, effectively with compact isotropy group.
For simple and simply-connected complex algebraic group G, we conjecture the existence of a functor eta_G from the category of 2-bordisms to the category of holomorphic symplectic varieties with Hamiltonian action, such that gluing of boundaries corresponds to the holomorphic symplectic quotient with respect to the diagonal action of G. We describe various properties of eta_G obtained via string-theoretic analysis. Mathematicians are urged to construct eta_G rigorously.
We solve the problem posed by Boyer and Galicki about the existence of K-contact simply connected manifolds with no Sasakian structure. Although the result lies in the framework of metric contact geometry, our methods come from contact and symplectic geometry and are based on the method of fat bundles developed by Sternberg, Weinstein and Lerman.
We construct the first example of a 5-dimensional simply connected compact manifold that admits a K-contact structure but does not admit a semi-regular Sasakian structure. For this, we need two ingredients: (a) to construct a suitable simply connected symplectic 4-manifold with disjoint symplectic surfaces spanning the homology, all of them but one of genus 1 and the other of genus g>1, (b) to prove a bound on the second Betti number $b_2$ of an algebraic surface with $b_1=0$ and having disjoint complex curves spanning the homology when all of them but one are of genus 1 and the other of genus…
Let $M$ be a simply connected pseudo-Riemannian homogeneous space of finite volume with isometry group $G$. We show that $M$ is compact and that the solvable radical of $G$ is abelian and the Levi factor is a compact semisimple Lie group acting transitively on $M$. For metric index less than three, we find that the isometry group of $M$ is compact itself. Examples demonstrate that $G$ is not necessarily compact for higher indices. To prepare these results, we study Lie algebras with abelian solvable radical and a nil-invariant symmetric bilinear form. For these, we derive an orthogonal decompo…
We give a new characterization of flat affine manifolds in terms of an action of the Lie algebra of classical infinitesimal affine transformations on the bundle of linear frames. We characterize flat affine symplectic Lie groups using symplectic étale affine representations and as a consequence of this, we show that a flat affine symplectic Lie group with bi-invariant symplectic connection contains a nontrivial one parameter subgroup formed by central translations. We give two methods for constructing flat affine symplectic Lie groups, thus obtaining all those having bi-invariant symplectic co…
We introduce a method to resolve a symplectic orbifold into a smooth symplectic manifold. Then we study how the formality and the Lefschetz property of the symplectic resolution are compared with that of the symplectic orbifold. We also study the formality of the symplectic blow-up of a symplectic orbifold along symplectic submanifolds disjoint from the orbifold singularities. This allows us to construct the first example of a simply connected compact symplectic manifold of dimension 8 which satisfies the Lefschetz property but is not formal, therefore giving a counter-example to a conjecture …
We generalize the "hamiltonian topology" on hamiltonian isotopies to an intrinsic "symplectic topology" on the space of symplectic isotopies. We use it to define the group $SSympeo(M,ω)$ of strong symplectic homeomorphisms, which generalizes the group $Hameo(M,ω)$ of hamiltonian homeomorphisms introduced by Oh and Muller. The group $SSympeo(M,ω)$ is arcwise connected, is contained in the identity component of $Sympeo(M,ω)$; it contains $Hameo(M,ω)$ as a normal subgroup and coincides with it when $M$ is simply connected. Finally its commutator subgroup $[SSympeo(M,ω),SSympeo(M,ω)]$ is contained…
By a special symplectic connection we mean a torsion free connection which is either the Levi-Civita connection of a Bochner-Kähler metric of arbitrary signature, a Bochner-bi-Lagrangian connection, a connection of Ricci type or a connection with special symplectic holonomy. A manifold or orbifold with such a connection is called special symplectic. We show that the symplectic reduction of (an open cell of) a parabolic contact manifold by a symmetry vector field is special symplectic in a canonical way. Moreover, we show that any special symplectic manifold or orbifold is locally equivalent to…
In this work we deal with left invariant complex and symplectic structures on simply connected four dimensional solvable real Lie groups. We search the general form of such structures, when they exist and we make use of this information to determine all left invariant Kaehler structures. Finally, as an appendix we compute explicitly the real cohomology of the corresponding Lie algebras.
We describe the structure of the Lie groups endowed with a left-invariant symplectic form, called symplectic Lie groups, in terms of semi-direct products of Lie groups, symplectic reduction and principal bundles with affine fiber. This description is particularly nice if the group is Hamiltonian, that is, if the left canonical action of the group on itself is Hamiltonian. The principal tool used for our description is a canonical affine structure associated with the symplectic form. We also characterize the Hamiltonian symplectic Lie groups among the connected symplectic Lie groups. We special…
We prove that the only exact Lagrangian submanifolds in an ALE space are spheres. ALE spaces are the simply connected hyperkahler manifolds which at infinity look like C^2/G for any finite subgroup G of SL(2,C). They can be realized as the plumbing of copies of the cotangent bundle of a 2-sphere according to ADE Dynkin diagrams. The proof relies on symplectic cohomology.
Let $g$ be a hyper-Hermitian metric on a simply connected hypercomplex four-manifold $M$. We show that when the isometry group $I(M,g)$ contains a subgroup acting simply transitively on $M$ by hypercomplex isometries then the metric $g$ is conformal to a hyper-Kähler metric. We describe explicitely the corresponding hyper-Kähler metrics and it follows that, in four dimensions, these are the only hyper-Kähler metrics containing a homogeneous metric in its conformal class.
Let $(M,\nabla,g)$ be a Hessian manifold. Then the total space of the tangent bundle $TM$ can be endowed with a Kähler structure $\left(I,{\cal g}\right)$. We say that a homogeneous Hessian manifold is a Hessian manifold $(M,\nabla,g)$ endowed with a transitive action of a group $G$ preserving $\nabla$ and $g$. If $(M,\nabla,g)$ is a simply connected homogeneous Hessian manifold for a group $G$ then we construct an action of the group $G\ltimes_θ\mathbb{R}^n$ on $TM=M\times \mathbb{R}^n$ such that $\left(TM,I,g\right)$ is a homogeneous Kähler manifold for the group $G\ltimes_θ\mathbb{R}^n$. A …
Given an integer b and a finitely presented group G we produce a compact symplectic six-manifold with c_1 = 0, b_2 > b, b_3 > b and fundamental group G. In the simply-connected case we can also arrange for b_3 = 0; in particular these examples are not diffeomorphic to Kähler manifolds with c_1 = 0. The construction begins with a certain orientable four-dimensional hyperbolic orbifold assembled from right-angled 120-cells. The twistor space of the hyperbolic orbifold is a symplectic Calabi-Yau orbifold; a crepant resolution of this last orbifold produces a smooth symplectic manifold with the re…
We use hyperbolic geometry to construct simply-connected symplectic or complex manifolds with trivial canonical bundle and with no compatible Kahler structure. We start with the desingularisations of the quadric cone in C^4: the smoothing is a natural S^3-bundle over H^3, its holomorphic geometry is determined by the hyperbolic metric; the small-resolution is a natural S^2-bundle over H^4 with symplectic geometry determined by the metric. Using hyperbolic geometry, we find orbifold quotients with trivial canonical bundle; smooth examples are produced via crepant resolutions. In particular, we …
We prove that the group of Hamiltonian automorphisms of a symplectic 4-manifold contains only finitely many conjugacy classes of maximal compact tori with respect to the action of the full symplectomorphism group. We also extend to rational and ruled manifolds a result of Kedra which asserts that, if $M$ is a simply connected symplectic 4-manifold with $b_{2}\geq 3$, and if $\widetilde{M}_δ$ denotes a blow-up of $M$ of small enough capacity $δ$, then the rational cohomology algebra of the Hamiltonian group of $\widetilde{M}_δ)$ is not finitely generated. Both results are based on the fact that…
In this paper we exhibit a family of flat left invariant affine structures on the double Lie group of the oscillator Lie group of dimension 4, associated to each solution of classical Yang-Baxter equation given by Boucetta and Medina. On the other hand, using Koszul's method, we prove the existence of an immersion of Lie groups between the group of affine transformations of a flat affine and simply connected manifold and the classical group of affine transformations of $\mathbb{R}^n$. In the last section, for each flat left invariant affine symplectic connection on the group of affine transfor…
A classical result of D. McDuff asserts that a simply-connected complete Kaehler manifold $(M,g,ω)$ with non positive sectional curvature admits global symplectic coordinates through a symplectomorphism $Ψ: M\rightarrow R^{2n}$ (where $n$ is the complex dimension of $M$), satisfying the following property (proved by E. Ciriza): the image $Ψ(T)$ of any complex totally geodesic submanifold $T\subset M$ through the point $p$ such that $Ψ(p)=0$, is a complex linear subspace of $C^n \simeq R^{2n}$. The aim of this paper is to exhibit, for all positive integers $n$, examples of $n$-dimensional compl…
In 1995, Dan Guan constructed examples of non-Kahler, simply-connected holomorphically symplectic manifolds. An alternative construction, using the Hilbert scheme of Kodaira-Thurston surface, was given by F. Bogomolov. We investigate topology and deformation theory of Bogomolov-Guan manifolds and show that it is similar to that of hyperkahler manifolds. We prove the local Torelli theorem, showing that holomorphically symplectic deformations of BG-manifolds are unobstructed, and the corresponding period map is locally a diffeomorphism. Using the local Torelli theorem, we prove the Fujiki formul…
Four-manifold theory is employed to study the existence of (twisted) generalized complex structures. It is shown that there exist (twisted) generalized complex structures that have more than one type change loci. In an example-driven fashion, (twisted) generalized complex structures are constructed on a myriad of four-manifolds, both simply and non-simply connected, which are neither complex nor symplectic.
