A modified Kähler-Ricci flow (Q842372)

The author introduces and studies a modified Kähler-Ricci flow. Namely let \(\omega_0\) be any Kähler metric over a closed manifold \(X\) with \(\dim_CX=n\geq 2\). Given any smooth real closed \((1,1)\)-form \(\omega_\infty\), set \(\omega_t = \omega_\infty +e^{-t}(\omega_{0} -\omega_\infty)\). Then the modified Kähler-Ricci flow at the level of metric potential is represented by the following evolution equation [cf. \textit{H.-D. Cao}, Invent. Math. 81, 359--372 (1985; Zbl 0574.53042), \textit{G. Tian, Z. Zhang}, Chin. Ann. Math., Ser. B 27, No.~2, 179--192 (2006; Zbl 1102.53047)] \[ \frac{\partial U}{\partial t} = \log \frac{(\omega_t+\sqrt{-1}\partial\bar\partial U)^n}{\Omega},\quad U(0,\cdot) = 0. \] At the level of metric this evolution is described by the equation \[ \frac{\partial \tilde\omega_t}{\partial t} = -\text{Ric} (\tilde\omega_t) +\text{Ric}(\Omega) - e^{-t} (\omega_0 -\omega_\infty), \quad \tilde\omega_0 = \omega_0 \] for \(\tilde\omega_t=\omega_t+\sqrt{-1} \partial\bar\partial U\); here \(\Omega\) stands for a smooth volume form over \(X\), and the Ricci form is determined by \(\text{Ric}(\Omega) = -\sqrt{-1}\partial\bar\partial u \log\frac{\Omega}{{Vol}_{Eucl}}\). The main result states that \textsl{the modified Kähler-Ricci flow exists smoothly as long as the cohomology class \([\omega_t]\) remains Kähler}. Moreover, \textsl{if \([\omega_\infty]\) is Kähler, then the flow converges smoothly to the unique solution of the complex Monge-Ampère equation} \((\omega_\infty+\sqrt{-1}\partial\bar\partial U_\infty)^n = \Omega\), \textit{H.-D. Cao} [Invent. Math. 81, 359--372 (1985; Zbl 0574.53042)]. Particular attention is payed to convergence estimates in the case when \([\omega_\infty]\) is degenerate as Kähler class.