Geodesics in the space of Kähler metrics (Q2376819): Difference between revisions

Let \((X,\omega)\) be a compact Kähler manifold. It is known from [\textit{T. Mobuchi}, Osaka J. Math. 24, 227--252 (1987; Zbl 0645.53038); \textit{S. Semmes}, Am. J. Math. 114, No. 3, 495--550 (1992; Zbl 0790.32017); \textit{S. K. Donaldson}, in: Ya. Eliashberg (ed.) et al., Northern California symplectic geometry seminar. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society. Transl., Ser. 2, Am. Math. Soc. 196(45), 13--33 (1999; Zbl 0972.53025)] that the set \(H_0\) of smooth Kähler forms on \(X\) cohomologuous to \(\omega\) and the set \(H\) of smooth, strongly \(\omega\)-plurisubharmonic functions on \(X\) carry natural infinite-dimensional Riemannian structures. In addition, \(H\) is isometric to the Riemannian product \(H_0\times{\mathbb R}\). It was asked by Donaldson if any pair of points in \(H\) (or \(H_0\)) can be connected by a smooth geodesic. The paper gives a negative answer by proving that if \(X\) possesses a holomorphic isometry \(h:X\to X\) with an isolated fixed point and \(h^2\) is the identity map, then there exists a Kähler form in \(H_0\) that cannot be connected to \(\omega\) by a smooth geodesic (not even a geodesic of the Sobolev class \(W^{1,2}\)). An example of such a manifold is the torus \({\mathbb C}^m/\Gamma\), \(\omega\) a translation invariant form, and \(h\) induced by the reflection \(z\mapsto -z\). The proof is based on solving homogeneous Monge-Ampére equations and constructing the corresponding foliations on \(\{s\in{\mathbb C}: 0\leq \text{Im}\,s\leq 1\}\times X\).