Cohomological constraint on deformations of compact Kähler manifolds (Q1881098)

The paper under review presents an algebraic proof of the principle ``obstructions to deformations of compact Kähler manifolds annihilate ambient cohomology''. The proof is based on the relations between deformation problems and the differential graded Lie algebras associated to them [cf. \textit{M. Manetti}, Int. Math. Res. Not. 2002, No. 14, 719--756 (2002; Zbl 1063.58007)], and is done by using general methods of the theory of deformation functors of these algebras [see e.g., \textit{B. Fantechi} and \textit{M. Manetti}, J. Algebra 202, No. 2, 541--579 (1998; Zbl 0981.13009) and \textit{W. M. Goldmann} and \textit{J. J. Millson}, Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 67, 43--96 (1988; Zbl 0678.53059)]. Let \(X\) be a compact Kähler manifold and \(K=KS_X\) the Kodaira-Spencer algebra of \(X\), i.e., the Dolbeault complex of the holomorphic tangent bundle of \(X\) with its natural structure of a differential graded Lie algebra. The vector space \(M=M_X=\)Hom\(^*_{\mathbb C}(H^*(X,\mathbb C),H^*(X,\mathbb C))\) of linear endomorphisms of the singular cohomology of \(X\) (with trivial differential and trivial Lie product) has a natural grading given by the Hodge decomposition. The author constructs a morphism \(\theta : H^*(X,T_X)=H^*(K)\rightarrow M\), mapping \(H^p(X,T_X)\) into \(M^{p-1}=:M[-1]^p\). He proves that every choice of a Kähler metric on \(X\) induces a canonical lifting of \(\theta\) to an \(L_{\infty}\)-morphism from \(K\) to \(M[-1]\) (Theorem A). The functor Def\(_K\) has an obstruction theory in the sense that for every small extension e\(:0\rightarrow J\rightarrow A\rightarrow B\rightarrow 0\) in the category of Artinian \(\mathbb C\)-algebras there is a map ob\(_e: \)Def\(_K\rightarrow H^2(K)\otimes J\) such that an element \(b\in\) Def\(_K(B)\) lifts to Def\(_K(A)\) if and only if ob\(_e(b)=0\). The obstruction space \(O_K\subset H^2(K)\) is defined as the vector space generated by the images of the maps \((\text{id}\otimes f)\circ \) ob\(_e\). The author constructs explicitly an \(L_{\infty}\)-morphism \(\mu: C(K)\rightarrow C(M[-1])\) between the associated graded coalgebras (Theorem 8), and from general results of the theory of deformation functors it follows that \(\mu\) induces a natural transformation \(\widetilde{\mu}:\) Def\(_K\rightarrow \)Def\(_{M[-1]}\) between the deformation functors of \(K\) and \(M[-1]\). Since the differential and the Lie product on \(M\) are trivial the obstruction space \(O_K\) is contained in the kernel of the induced map \(H^2(K)\rightarrow M[-1]^2\) (Proposition 13). These results and facts are applied to the deformations of \(X\), using the fact that the deformation functor Def\(_K\) of the Kodaira-Spencer algebra \(K\) is isomorphic to the functor Def\(_X\) of infinitesimal deformations of \(X\), see \textit{W.M. Goldman} and \textit{J. J. Millson} [Ill. J. Math. 34, No. 2, 337--367 (1990; Zbl 0707.32004)]. Finally, the above stated principle is made precise in Corollary 14: Let \(O\) be the kernel of \(\theta_2:H^2(X,T_X)\rightarrow \bigoplus_{r,s} \Hom_{\mathbb C}(H^r(\Omega^s_X),H^{r+2}\Omega^{s-1}_X))\). Then for every small extension \( 0\rightarrow J\rightarrow A\rightarrow B\rightarrow 0\) and every \(b\in\) Def\(_X(B)\) the associated obstruction belongs to \(O\otimes J\).